Influence of forced convection on unidirectional growth of crystals

Influence of forced convection on the growth rate of KDP crystal grown by unidirectional method has been investigated. The results were compared with the crystal grown under free convection conditions. To the best of our knowledge the effect of forced convection on unidirectional growth has been reported for the first time. An apparatus was designed and developed for growth of crystals by cooling under forced convection conditions. The growth rate achieved under forced convection was double to that under free convection conditions. Transmittance in the visible region for the crystals grown under the two types of convection regimes was ∼90%. Birefringence and Mach-Zehnder interferometry shows good refractive index homogeneity of the grown crystals.