We describe the results of our experiments with directional solidification of Al2O3/GdAlO3 eutectic oxide fibers using the laser heated pedestal growth technique. Fibers with sizes ranging from 500 to 640 mum diameter and 60 mm length were obtained without pores. The molten zone temperature was approximately (2100+/-100)degreesC and the axial temperature gradient in the solid-liquid interface was determined as 6 x 10degreesC/cm. The microstructural relation lambda(2)upsilon = constant = (6.3 +/- 0.1) mum(3)/s applied very well to Al2O3GdAlO3 eutectic fibers, despite their microstructural complexity. We were able to control the eutectic microstructure by varying the pulling rate, making possible the production of fibers free of the complex-regular fibrous pattern. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All ights reserved.