First off, I believe 165 produces acceptable yields for many applications and at acceptable cost. Second your speculation of whether or not there have been ongoing trials for 262 is just that, speculation. I believe GT has stated otherwise. My speculation is work has been done to continue the scale up. We'll see...one of these days...
Agreed on all your points except that they are not working to advance their furnaces.
GTAT might not belong in the sapphire production business, but they do belong in the furnace business and there is no doubt in my mind that they are working to increase the yield of furnaces. Maybe they are close, maybe they aren't, but they forsure are working on it.
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