On the Creation of a Stable Drop-Like Static Meniscus, Appropriate for the Growth of a Single Crystal Tube with Prior Specified Inner and Outer Radii

Abstract

A theoretical procedure for the creation of a stable drop-like static meniscus, appropriate for the growth of a single crystal tube, with a priori specified inner and outer radius, is presented. The method locates the controllable partpof the pressure difference across the free surface. It consists in a set of calculus, which leads to the determination of the melt column height (between the horizontal crucible melt level and the shaper top level) in function of the pressure of the gas flow (introduced in the furnace for release the heat) in order to obtain the desired meniscus. The procedure is presented in general and is numerically illustrated for InSb tubes. The novelty is the algorithm for the exact determination ofp, which has to be used, the determination of the melt column height, and the evaluation of the effect of shaper radii. The setting of the thermal conditions, which assure that for the obtained static meniscus the solidification conditions are satisfied at the “right” places, is not considered here.