Physics and Astronomy

The present volume continues the tradition of previous issues in covering all the main divisions in the science of crystal growth: growth from vapor, solution, and melt. At the same time, it reflects the recent tendency to more detailed research on solid -state crystal­ lization. In compiling the collection, preference has been given to papers that not only present novel scientific results but also contain surveys of the published data, although certain of the papers are purely original ones and some are purely of review character. The need for these surveys is dictated by at least two circumstances. First, there is an ongoing expan­ sion of specialized publications on crystal growth and, correspondingly, there is an increase in the volume of the publications requiring review. Second, rapid advances in crystal mak­ ing for various purposes (particularly microelectronics and quantum electronics) have meant that many important facts and observations on crystal formation are dispersed in numerous unspecialized publications and thus in part are lost to fundamental science.