Gadolinium Gallium Garnet (GGG, ) is a synthetic

crystal A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituents (such as atoms, molecules, or ions) are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions. In addition, macro ...

line material of the

garnet Garnets () are a group of silicate minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives. All species of garnets possess similar physical properties and crystal forms, but differ in chemical composition. The different s ...

group, with good mechanical, thermal, and optical properties. It is typically colorless. It has a cubic lattice, a density of 7.08 g/cm³ and its

Mohs hardness The Mohs scale of mineral hardness () is a qualitative ordinal scale, from 1 to 10, characterizing scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of harder material to scratch softer material. The scale was introduced in 1812 by t ...

is variously noted as 6.5 and 7.5. Its crystals are produced with the Czochralski method. During production, various

dopant A dopant, also called a doping agent, is a trace of impurity element that is introduced into a chemical material to alter its original electrical or optical properties. The amount of dopant necessary to cause changes is typically very low. When ...

s can be added for colour modification. The material is also used in fabrication of various optical components and as a substrate material for magneto–optical films ( magnetic bubble memory).J. F. Greber "Gallium and Gallium Compounds" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 2012 Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. It also finds use in

jewelry Jewellery ( UK) or jewelry ( U.S.) consists of decorative items worn for personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and cufflinks. Jewellery may be attached to the body or the clothes. From a w ...

as a

diamond simulant A diamond simulant, diamond imitation or imitation diamond is an object or material with gemological characteristics similar to those of a diamond. Simulants are distinct from synthetic diamonds, which are actual diamonds exhibiting the same ma ...

. GGG can also be used as a seed substrate for the growth of other garnets such as

yttrium iron garnet Yttrium iron garnet (YIG) is a kind of synthetic garnet, with chemical composition , or Y3Fe5O12. It is a ferrimagnetic material with a Curie temperature of 560 K. YIG may also be known as yttrium ferrite garnet, or as iron yttrium oxide or ...

References

Synthetic minerals Oxides Gallium compounds Gadolinium compounds Diamond simulants {{inorganic-compound-stub

See also

References