Crystal growth of rare-earth orthovanadate (RVO4) by the floating-zone method

Single crystals of rare-earth orthovanadate, RVO4 where R=Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu, with the cross-sectional size of about 7×7 mm2 and 20–50 mm length have been successfully grown by the floating-zone method. Fluorescence properties at room temperature and dielectric and elastic properties along the c-axis of some grown crystals have been reported.