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 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: 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 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: 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: 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 (“CZ”) single-crystal growth process system continuously grows crystal boules in a chamber furnace during a single thermal cycle. Finished boules are transferred from the furnace chamber, without need to cool the furnace, to an adjoining cooling chamber for controlled cooling. Controlled cooling is preferably accomplished by transporting boules along a path having an incrementally decreasing temperature. In order to maximize crystal boule yield in a single furnace thermal cycle, the crucible assembly may be recharged with crystal growth aggregate and/or slag may be discharged during the crystal boule growth process without opening the furnace.

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 method for fabricating a detector or light guide using laser technology. The method yields a detector component such as a scintillator, light guide or optical sensor which provides for the internal manipulation of light waves via the strategic formation of micro-voids to enhance control and collection of scintillation light, allowing for accurate decoding of the impinging radiation. The method uses laser technology to create micro-voids within a target media to optically segment the media. The micro-voids are positioned to define optical boundaries of the optically-segmented portions forming virtual resolution elements within the scintillator. Each micro-void is formed at its selected location using a laser source. The laser source generates and focuses a beam of light into the target media sequentially to form the micro-voids. The laser beam ablates the media at the focal point, thereby yielding the micro-void.

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 (“CZ”) single-crystal growth process system continuously grows crystal boules in a chamber furnace during a single thermal cycle. Finished boules are transferred from the furnace chamber, without need to cool the furnace, to an adjoining cooling chamber for controlled cooling. Controlled cooling is preferably accomplished by transporting boules along a path having an incrementally decreasing temperature. In order to maximize crystal boule yield in a single furnace thermal cycle, the crucible assembly may be recharged with crystal growth aggregate and/or slag may be discharged during the crystal boule growth process without opening the furnace.