A method is provided. The method includes providing an alignment structure at least partially defining a predetermined alignment pattern. The method also includes forming a solid crystal on the alignment structure. Crystal molecules of the solid crystal are aligned in the predetermined alignment pattern.

An optical element is provided. The optical element includes a solid crystal including crystal molecules aligned in a predetermined alignment pattern at least partially defined by an alignment structure.

A die for growing a single crystal by an Edge-defined Film-fed Growth (EFG) technique includes a first outer die plate; a second outer die plate; and at least one central die plate positioned between the first outer die plate and the second outer die plate such that at least two capillaries are formed between the first outer die plate and the second outer die plate. First ends of the first outer die plate and the second outer die plate have a slope extending away from at least one of the at least two capillaries to form a growth interface at a top of the die. Second ends of the first outer die plate and the second outer die plate are immersed in a raw material melt provided in a crucible. The raw material melt is configured to travel to the growth interface by capillary flow of the raw material melt through the at least two capillaries.

A die for growing a single crystal by an Edge-defined Film-fed Growth (EFG) technique includes a first outer die plate; a second outer die plate; and at least one central die plate positioned between the first outer die plate and the second outer die plate such that at least two capillaries are formed between the first outer die plate and the second outer die plate. First ends of the first outer die plate and the second outer die plate have a slope extending away from at least one of the at least two capillaries to form a growth interface at a top of the die. Second ends of the first outer die plate and the second outer die plate are immersed in a raw material melt provided in a crucible. The raw material melt is configured to travel to the growth interface by capillary flow of the raw material melt through the at least two capillaries.

A method for growing beta phase of gallium oxide (β-Ga.sub.2O.sub.3) single crystals from the melt contained within a metal crucible surrounded by a thermal insulation and heated by a heater. A growth atmosphere provided into a growth furnace has a variable oxygen concentration or partial pressure in such a way that the oxygen concentration reaches a growth oxygen concentration value (C2, C2′, C2″) in the concentration range (SC) of 5-100 vol. % below the melting temperature (MT) of Ga.sub.2O.sub.3 or at the melting temperature (MT) or after complete melting of the Ga.sub.2O.sub.3 starting material adapted to minimize creation of metallic gallium amount and thus eutectic formation with the metal crucible. During the crystal growth step of the β-Ga.sub.2O.sub.3 single crystal from the melt at the growth temperature (GT) the growth oxygen concentration value (C2, C2′, C2″) is maintained within the oxygen concentration range (SC).

A method for growing beta phase of gallium oxide (β-Ga.sub.2O.sub.3) single crystals from the melt contained within a metal crucible surrounded by a thermal insulation and heated by a heater. A growth atmosphere provided into a growth furnace has a variable oxygen concentration or partial pressure in such a way that the oxygen concentration reaches a growth oxygen concentration value (C2, C2′, C2″) in the concentration range (SC) of 5-100 vol. % below the melting temperature (MT) of Ga.sub.2O.sub.3 or at the melting temperature (MT) or after complete melting of the Ga.sub.2O.sub.3 starting material adapted to minimize creation of metallic gallium amount and thus eutectic formation with the metal crucible. During the crystal growth step of the β-Ga.sub.2O.sub.3 single crystal from the melt at the growth temperature (GT) the growth oxygen concentration value (C2, C2′, C2″) is maintained within the oxygen concentration range (SC).

An apparatus for growing a crystal includes a growth chamber and a melt chamber thermally isolated from the growth chamber. The growth chamber includes: a growth crucible configured to contain a liquid melt; and a die located in the growth crucible, the die having a die opening and one or more capillaries extending from within the growth crucible toward the die opening. The melt chamber includes: a melt crucible configured to receive feedstock material; and at least one heating element positioned within the melt chamber relative to the melt crucible to melt the feedstock material within the melt crucible to form the liquid melt. The apparatus also includes at least one capillary conveyor in fluid communication with the melt crucible and the growth crucible to transport the liquid melt from the melt crucible to the growth crucible.

A device for producing a tubular single crystal comprises a crucible, a heating means, a die disposed in the crucible, having an annular slit, and a pulling-up means. The upper surface of the die includes an upward slope that increases in height from the annular slit to an inner diameter side and an outer diameter side, respectively, progressing away from the annular slit, wherein the maximum height of the slope on the inner diameter side (H1) is greater than the maximum height of the slope on the outer diameter side (H2) and the difference (H1H2) is 0.1 mm or more and less than 7.5 mm.

A device for producing a tubular single crystal comprises a crucible, a heating means, a die disposed in the crucible, having an annular slit, and a pulling-up means. The upper surface of the die includes an upward slope that increases in height from the annular slit to an inner diameter side and an outer diameter side, respectively, progressing away from the annular slit, wherein the maximum height of the slope on the inner diameter side (H1) is greater than the maximum height of the slope on the outer diameter side (H2) and the difference (H1H2) is 0.1 mm or more and less than 7.5 mm.

A die for EFG-based single crystal growth includes a lower surface to be immersed into a raw material melt with an impurity added, a rectangular upper surface facing a seed crystal and having a long side and a short side, and a plurality of slit sections extending from the lower surface to the upper surface and causing the raw material melt to ascend from the lower surface to the upper surface. Respective longitudinal directions of openings of the plurality of slit sections on the upper surface are parallel to one another and non-parallel to the long side of the upper surface.