Gadolinium gallium garnet

Gadolinium Gallium Garnet (GGG, Gd3Ga5O12) is a synthetic crystalline material of the garnet 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 is variously noted as 6.5 and 7.5. Its crystals are produced with the Czochralski method. During production, various dopants 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). It also finds use in jewelry as a diamond simulant. GGG can also be used as a seed substrate for the growth of other garnets such as yttrium iron garnet.

Gadolinium gallium garnet
General
Categorysynthetic mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Gd3Ga5O12
Crystal systemcubic
Identification
Colortransparent, colorless to light brown or yellow. May also be orange or blue.
Mohs scale hardness6.5 (other sources 7.5)
Lustervitreous to subadamantine
Specific gravity7.05 (+.04, -.10)
Density7.08 g/cm3
Polish lustervitreous to subadamantine
Optical propertiesSingle refractive
Refractive index1.970 (+.060)
Birefringencenone
Pleochroismnone
Dispersion.045
Ultraviolet fluorescencemoderate to strong pinkish orange in shortwave
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