Two-Step Floating Zone Method for Single-Crystal Growth of Er-Doped Y₃Fe₅O₁₂

Y₃Fe₅O₁₂ single crystals were grown by using a two-step floating zone method. In the first step, microsized YIG seed crystals were grown in an iron-rich melt. In the second step, YIG was dissolved into the iron-rich melt, and YIG was supersaturated in the iron-rich melt. Then, the grown YIG has been aggregated and sunken, becoming a single crystal of YIG. Our two-step floating zone method has successfully grown YIG and Er-doped YIG single crystals. Our proposed two-step floating zone method enables the simple and rapid growth of pure peritectic compounds and doped compositions.