Crystal growth and phase diagram of Gd3−xYxFe5O12 system

The crystallographic phase diagram for the Gd2O3-Fe2O3 and (Gd2O3+Y2O3)-Fe2O3 system have been constructed by differential thermal analysis, quenching and X-ray diffraction. Single crystals of Gd3−xYxFe5O12 have been grown by the traveling-solvent floating-zone (TSFZ) method following the obtained phase diagram. It was found that the optimum growth conditions involved using a pre-melted rod and a growth rate of less than 0.5 mm/h in oxygen atmosphere.