Crystal growth is an important field of materials science, which involves
controlled phase transformation. The solid state materials can be classified into
single crystals, polycrystalline and amorphous materials depending on the arrange-
ment of the constituent atoms, ions or molecules. An ideal crystal is an infinite
lattice of atoms arranged in patterns which repeat in all three dimensions with
repeat distance but real crystals are finite and contain defects. A single crystal
consists of atomic arrays that are periodic in three dimensions with equal repeated
distances (lattice spacing) in a given direction. Many types of crystals find appli-
cations in lasers, optical components for communication, thermal imaging, light
emitting diodes, pyroelectric detectors etc. Semiconductor, ferroelectric, piezo-
electric, laser and infrared sensitive crystals are part of solid state devices in use
today. New materials are always investigated and the list of applications for crys-
tals is on the rise. Hence growth of single crystals has become inevitable for any
further developments in material research.