Growth and characterization of BaLiF3 single crystal as a new optical material in the VUV region

The growth of undoped BaLiF3 (BLF) single crystals, a candidate for window material in the vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) region, was carried out in a Czochralski system under CF4 atmosphere. BLF single crystals 1 inch in diameter were obtained and characterized. The thermal expansion coefficient of the BLF single crystal along the 〈100〉-axis was 3.33 × 10-5 K. The distribution of birefringence along the 〈100〉-axis was in the order of 10-7. The absorption edge of BLF was determined to be 123 nm, showing high potential as an optical window material in the VUV region. © Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.