Crystals with composition MgTa2O6 and Ce:LuAG were synthesized using the micro-pulling-down method. The crystals were prepared from powdered oxides and the results were characterized with x-ray powder diffraction, x-ray luminescence, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Analysis confirmed single crystal growths of Ce:LuAG while two phases were identified in the MgTa2O6 growths. Production parameters for these crystal growths are detailed. Further development is required in the case of MgTa2O6 as growth results did notproduce detectable emission spectra required of scintillators. The growth of single crystal Ce:LuAG was confirmed and the spectral analysis matched those of published values. Ce:LuAG was confirmed to be an appropriate scintillator material that can be grown with in-house equipment at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy testing were performed at Michigan State University.
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