Growth, theoretical and optical studies on potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) single crystals by modified Sankaranarayanan–Ramasamy (mSR) method

Transparent single crystals of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) were grown by modified Sankaranarayanan–Ramasamy (SR) method. The band gap energy for the KDP crystals was calculated from optical transmission spectrum. The theoretical calculations to determine the optical constants of the material and a technique for photonic band gap tuning, which is essentially required to develop the optoelectronic devices, were determined using the optical studies. Further, the Vicker's micro hardness as well as parameters such as fracture toughness (Kc), brittleness index (B) and yield strength (σv) are presented.