Crystal growth and twins in La(1−x)SrxMnO3

Abstract We present crystal growth experiments of the colossal magnetoresistance material La (1− x ) Sr x MnO 3 using a CO 2 -laser heated floating zone method. Investigations of the solidified molten zone show that La 2 O 3 and MnO is formed in the melt using atmospheres with an O 2 pressure of 10 −5 and 10 −2 mbar. No additional phases can be detected in the crystal, if the growth is performed in air. The twins in the grown crystals are investigated using ultrasound-, optical-polarization-microscopy and Laue backscattering. In LaMnO 3 we find twin boundaries along the (1 1 2) and (1 0 1) planes. In La 0.7 Sr 0.3 MnO 3 the twin boundaries are perpendicular to the pseudocubic (1 0 0) planes.