For the purpose of preparing ruby single crystals with a high degree of structural perfection, the evolution of their structural state was investigated by using four-point loading at 1490C and chemical etching pits. The regularities of the arrangement of dislocations in single-crystal samples of ruby were established. The starting stress for the onset of the dislocation motion was found to be 2MPa. The results obtained make it possible to determine the optimum parameters of thermomechanical treatment of the single crystals and, in the future, to solve the problem of their long-term serviceability.

Starting Stress for the Onset of Dislocation Motion in Ruby Single Crystals. M.E.Bosin, I.F.Zvyagintseva, V.N.Zvyagintsev, F.F.Lavrentev, V.N.Nikiforenko: Physics of the Solid State, 2004, 46[5], 858-60