Today at the SPIE Defense, Security and Sensing Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, attendees can visit Booth 337 and see what Rubicon Technology of Franklin Park, Ill., considers the world’s largest sapphire crystal. Rubicon Technology's 441-lb bulk sapphire superboule, on display at the SPIE Defense, Security and Sensing Conference in Orlando. (Photo: Lynn Savage)The company grows bulk sapphire crystals weighing about 187 lb for wafers of up to 8 in. But stepping that up, the superboule weighs in at 441 lb and will be used for wafers of up to 12 in.Sapphire substrates are used in high-brightness LEDs, radio-frequency integrated circuits and military applications, including transparent armor, and windows for unmanned aerial vehicles and submarines. Using large sapphires makes possible large-size windows and wafers in C-plane and other orientations, as well as optical parts in varying thicknesses. The giant sapphire was grown using the company’s proprietary ES2 crystal growth technology. The company intends to keep scaling up to produce even larger-size crystals in the future. For more information, visit: www.rubicon-es2.comAnne L. Fischer, Photonics Spectra senior editoranne.fischer@laurin.com