An improved system and process for growing crystal fibers comprising a means for creating a laser beam (4) having substantially constant intensity profile through its cross-sectional area, means (22 and 24) for directing the laser beam at a portion of solid feed material (16) located within a fiber growth chamber (42) to form molten feed material (18), means (34 and 35) to support a seed fiber (20 and 21) above the molten feed material, means to translate the seed fiber towards and away from the molten feed material so that the seed fiber can make contact with the molten feed material, fuse to the molten feed material and then be withdrawn away from the molten feed material whereby the molten feed material is drawn off in the form of a crystal fiber.
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