Single crystal fibers of rare earth ortho-niobate: Growth, ferroelastic property, and domain studies

One dimensional single crystals of LaNbO/sub 4/, NdNbO/sub 4/ and CeNbO/sub 4/ have been grown successfully by a laser heated pedestal growth technique. Some physical properties and the ferroic phase transitions as a function of temperature are studied over the range room temperature to 800/spl deg/C by various thermal, electric and optical analytical techniques. Twin walls are observed, and their relations with the ferroelastic phase transition are discussed.