Liquid phase epitaxy garnets

Van Erk, W. (1978). The growth kinetics of garnet liquid phase epitaxy using horizontal dipping. Journal of Crystal Growth, 43, 446-56. 

M. H. Randles Liquid Phase Epitaxial Growth ofMagnetic Garnet (103 ref.)... 

The substituted garnet plates can be produced by slicing from a single crystal rod grown by the floating zone method or, more economically, from thick films grown onto a host substrate by liquid phase epitaxy (see Section 3.11). The plates are lapped, polished, coated with antireflection layers and then diced to produce the final elements ( 2mm side by 100/mi thickness) ready for assembly into the isolator. 

Liquid phase epitaxy, or LPE, has been investigated in great detail because this was the first method for preparing monocrystalline garnet films for use as the ferrites in bubble computer memories, and more recently, for applications in magnetooptics. 

Liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) was used for forming thin garnet films for magnetic bubble memories. Describe the basic principles behind this technique. Would sputtering or evaporation be good alternative techniques for such films Explain how you arrived at your answer. 

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