Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising discharging a slurry from a vessel to a conduit; where the slurry comprises a liquid and a composition comprising at least two materials having different densities-a first material having a higher density and a second material having a lower density than that of the first material; creating a surge in velocity in slurry flow as it is transported through the conduit; separating the first material from the second material; where the first material is disposed on an inner surface of the conduit and where the second material flows through the conduit to a container; and removing the first material from the inner surface of the conduit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising discharging a slurry from a vessel to a conduit; where the slurry comprises a liquid and a composition comprising at least two materials having different densities-a first material having a higher density and a second material having a lower density than that of the first material; creating a surge in velocity in slurry flow as it is transported through the conduit; separating the first material from the second material; where the first material is disposed on an inner surface of the conduit and where the second material flows through the conduit to a container; and removing the first material from the inner surface of the conduit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising discharging a slurry from a vessel to a conduit; where the slurry comprises a liquid and a composition comprising at least two materials having different densities-a first material having a higher density and a second material having a lower density than that of the first material; creating a surge in velocity in slurry flow as it is transported through the conduit; separating the first material from the second material; where the first material is disposed on an inner surface of the conduit and where the second material flows through the conduit to a container; and removing the first material from the inner surface of the conduit.

Abstract: A growth chamber or a Czochralski crystal growth station has one or more re-sealable caps that are inserted into the chamber body. An O-ring seals the cap within its mating portion of the chamber body. The re-sealable caps facilitate re-use of the chamber body for a future crystal growth cycle.

Abstract: Roll forming is used for re-shaping an iridium crucible. The crucible is placed on a platen. The platen rotates the crucible while heat is applied by a plurality of torches. A plurality of rollers press on the rotating, heated crucible to re-shape. The roll forming allows for a greater number of repetitions of the re-shaping, increasing the number of uses per expensive re-fabrication of the crucible. The roll forming may provide more exact re-shaping.

Abstract: A cantilever device for extending capacity of a scale used in a crystal growth apparatus having a pulling head wherein upward movement of a support column in the pulling head decreases a weight measured by the scale. The device includes a horizontal arm having first and second brackets, wherein the first bracket is attached to the pulling head. The device also includes a plate that extends through openings in the first and second brackets, wherein the plate includes a contact end and a free end. Further, the device includes a flexible element attached between the arm and the plate to form a pivot to enable rotation of the plate. A load is positioned on the plate wherein the load causes rotation of the plate about the pivot to cause upward movement of the contact end to move the support column upward to decrease weight measured by the scale.

Abstract: A pulling head for a crystal growth furnace. The pulling head includes a servomotor and a rotatable housing attached to the servomotor, wherein the housing includes first, second, third and fourth housing magnets. The pulling head also includes a shaft attached to a scale and a connection device having first and second connection magnets. The first connection magnet is arranged between the first and second housing magnets to generate first and second magnetic repulsion forces and the second connection magnet is arranged between the third and fourth housing magnets to generate third and fourth magnetic repulsion forces. A rotation coupling is attached between the shaft and the connection device wherein the scale weighs the shaft, rotation coupling and the connection device. The servomotor rotates the housing and rotation of the housing is transmitted by the magnetic repulsion forces to the connection device to rotate the connection device.

Abstract: Roll forming is used for re-shaping an iridium crucible. The crucible is placed on a platen. The platen rotates the crucible while heat is applied by a plurality of torches. A plurality of rollers press on the rotating, heated crucible to re-shape. The roll forming allows for a greater number of repetitions of the re-shaping, increasing the number of uses per expensive re-fabrication of the crucible.

Abstract: The use of the effect of crystallographic axis orientation on the effectiveness in annealing in multiple atmospheres and chemical compositions of lutetium oxyorthosilicate crystals and other scintillator crystals is disclosed. By controlling axis orientation an favorable annealing condition can be selected to repair both internal interstitial and vacancy defects through the crystal lattice. Axis orientation can be further utilized to control the uniformity of surface finish of chemically etched crystal.

Abstract: A method for making a rare-earth oxyorthosilicate scintillator single crystal includes growing a single crystal from a melt of compounds including a rare-earth element (such as Lu), silicon and oxygen, a compound including a rare-earth activator (such as Ce), and a compound of a Group-7 element (such as Mn). The method further includes selecting an scintillation performance parameter (such as decay), and based on the scintillation performance parameter to be achieved, doping activator and Group-7 element at predetermined levels, or relative levels between the two, so as to achieve stable growth of the single-crystalline scintillator material from the melt.

Abstract: A method for making a rare-earth oxyorthosilicate scintillator single crystal includes growing a single crystal from a melt of compounds including a rare-earth element (such as Lu), silicon and oxygen, a compound including a rare-earth activator (such as Ce), and a compound of a Group-7 element (such as Mn). The method further includes selecting an scintillation performance parameter (such as decay), and based on the scintillation performance parameter to be achieved, doping activator and Group-7 element at predetermined levels, or relative levels between the two, so as to achieve stable growth of the single-crystalline scintillator material from the melt.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising discharging a slurry from a vessel to a conduit; where the slurry comprises a liquid and a composition comprising at least two materials having different densities-a first material having a higher density and a second material having a lower density than that of the first material; creating a surge in velocity in slurry flow as it is transported through the conduit; separating the first material from the second material; where the first material is disposed on an inner surface of the conduit and where the second material flows through the conduit to a container; and removing the first material from the inner surface of the conduit.

Abstract: A growth chamber or a Czochralski crystal growth station has one or more re-sealable caps that are inserted into the chamber body. An O-ring seals the cap within its mating portion of the chamber body. The re-sealable caps facilitate re-use of the chamber body for a future crystal growth cycle.

Abstract: A cantilever device for extending capacity of a scale used in a crystal growth apparatus having a pulling head wherein upward movement of a support column in the pulling head decreases a weight measured by the scale. The device includes a horizontal arm having first and second brackets, wherein the first bracket is attached to the pulling head. The device also includes a plate that extends through openings in the first and second brackets, wherein the plate includes a contact end and a free end. Further, the device includes a flexible element attached between the arm and the plate to form a pivot to enable rotation of the plate. A load is positioned on the plate wherein the load causes rotation of the plate about the pivot to cause upward movement of the contact end to move the support column upward to decrease weight measured by the scale.

Abstract: A pulling head for a crystal growth furnace. The pulling head includes a servomotor and a rotatable housing attached to the servomotor, wherein the housing includes first, second, third and fourth housing magnets. The pulling head also includes a shaft attached to a scale and a connection device having first and second connection magnets. The first connection magnet is arranged between the first and second housing magnets to generate first and second magnetic repulsion forces and the second connection magnet is arranged between the third and fourth housing magnets to generate third and fourth magnetic repulsion forces. A rotation coupling is attached between the shaft and the connection device wherein the scale weighs the shaft, rotation coupling and the connection device. The servomotor rotates the housing and rotation of the housing is transmitted by the magnetic repulsion forces to the connection device to rotate the connection device.

Abstract: The use of the effect of crystallographic axis orientation on the effectiveness in annealing in multiple atmospheres and chemical compositions of lutetium oxyorthosilicate crystals and other scintillator crystals is disclosed. By controlling axis orientation an favorable annealing condition can be selected to repair both internal interstitial and vacancy defects through the crystal lattice. Axis orientation can be further utilized to control the uniformity of surface finish of chemically etched crystal.

Abstract: A Czochralski process (“CZ”) crystal growth method and furnace having a heater capable of generating a heating zone, a crucible within the heating zone and capable of retaining a volume of molten crystal growth material forming a melt line oriented in a designated position within the heating zone, a seed growth rod retractable from the crucible with a rod retraction mechanism, for forming a crystal boule thereon proximal the melt line from the molten crystal growth material. The furnace causes relative movement between the crucible and heating zone as the crystal boule is retracted, so that the melt line is maintained in the designated position within the heating zone. In some embodiments relative movement is based at least in part on sensed weight of the growing crystal boule. In other embodiments the crucible growth rod retraction mechanism are fixed relative to each other by a gantry.

Abstract: A lid for a crystal growth chamber crucible is constructed by forming arcuate sector-shaped portions and coupling them in abutting relationship, for example by welding, to form an annular profile fabricated lid. The arcuate sector-shaped portions may be formed and removed from a lid fabrication blank with less waste than when unitary annular lids are formed and removed from a similarly sized fabrication blank. For example, the sector-shaped portions may be arrayed in an undulating pattern on the fabrication sheet.

Abstract: A composite crucible comprising an iridium alloy sidewall and an iridium bottom. The iridium alloy is selected from the group consisting of iridium, rhenium, rhodium and tungsten. In some embodiments the iridium alloy comprises about 99 to 95 parts iridium and about 1 to 5 five parts rhenium. The crucible can be fabricated by rolling a flat sheet of iridium alloy into a cylinder and affixing an iridium circular bottom to one end of the cylinder. Seams can be welded to complete the composite crucible structure.

Abstract: A Czochralski process (“CZ”) crystal growth method and furnace having a heater capable of generating a heating zone, a crucible within the heating zone and capable of retaining a volume of molten crystal growth material forming a melt line oriented in a designated position within the heating zone, a seed growth rod retractable from the crucible with a rod retraction mechanism, for forming a crystal boule thereon proximal the melt line from the molten crystal growth material. The furnace causes relative movement between the crucible and heating zone as the crystal boule is retracted, so that the melt line is maintained in the designated position within the heating zone. In some embodiments relative movement is based at least in part on sensed weight of the growing crystal boule. In other embodiments the crucible growth rod retraction mechanism are fixed relative to each other by a gantry.