Growth of birefringent Ca3(BO3)2 crystals by the Czochralski method

Large novel birefringent Ca3(BO3)2 crystals have been grown successfully by the Czochralski method. The optical transmission and the refractive indices of the crystal have been measured as a function of wavelength. The appropriate Sellmeier dispersion equations have been obtained. The results show that the crystal has a wide transmission range from 180 to 3800 nm, and the birefringence is as large as −0.0968 at 630 nm.