Abstract: A method of growing a crystal on a substrate disposed in a reactor, that provides a reactor chamber in which the substrate is disposed, includes flowing reactive gases inside the reactor chamber toward the substrate, the reactive gases comprising components that are able to bond to each other to form the crystal, and flowing buffer gas in the reactor chamber between the reactive gases and a wall of the reactor, where the flowing buffer gas inhibits at least one of a first material at least one of in and produced by the reactive gases from reaching the reactor wall and a second material produced by the reactor wall from reaching the reactive gases in the reactor chamber before the reactive gases reach the substrate.

Abstract: A method of growing a crystal on a substrate disposed in a reactor, that provides a reactor chamber in which the substrate is disposed, includes flowing reactive gases inside the reactor chamber toward the substrate, the reactive gases comprising components that are able to bond to each other to form the crystal, and flowing buffer gas in the reactor chamber between the reactive gases and a wall of the reactor, where the flowing buffer gas inhibits at least one of a first material at least one of in and produced by the reactive gases from reaching the reactor wall and a second material produced by the reactor wall from reaching the reactive gases in the reactor chamber before the reactive gases reach the substrate.

Abstract: A method of heating an optical member includes providing the optical member, directing heat from a heat source toward the optical member, and distributing the heat about the optical member through a high-thermal-conductivity apparatus disposed between the heat source and the optical member such that a surface of the apparatus defining a volume for receiving the optical member will have a substantially uniform temperature.

Abstract: A system for heating optical members includes a thermally-conductive inner housing defining an interior volume for receiving an optical member to be heated, a thermally-insulative outer housing at least partially containing the thermally-conductive inner housing, and a heating structure disposed outside the inner housing and configured to provide heat through the thermally-conductive inner housing and into the interior volume defined by the inner housing.

Abstract: A system for heating optical members includes a thermally-conductive inner housing defining an interior volume for receiving an optical member to be heated, a thermally-insulative outer housing at least partially containing the thermally-conductive inner housing, and a heating structure disposed outside the inner housing and configured to provide heat through the thermally-conductive inner housing and into the interior volume defined by the inner housing.