Model experiments for the Czochralski crystal growth technique

A lot of the physical and the numerical modeling of Czochralski crystal growth is done on the generic Rayleigh-Bénard system. To better approximate the conditions in a Czochralski puller, the influences of a rounded crucible bottom, deviations of the thermal boundary conditions from the generic case, crucible and/or crystal rotation, and the influence of magnetic fields are often studied separately. The present contribution reviews some of these topics while concentrating on studies of the flow and related temperature fluctuations in systems where a rotating magnetic field (RMF) was applied. The three-dimensional convective patterns and the resulting temperature fluctuations will be discussed both for the mere buoyant case and for the application of an RMF. It is shown that a system between a Rayleigh-Bénard and a more realistic configuration, which is still cylindrical but whose surface is partially covered by a crystal model, behaves much the same as a Rayleigh-Bénard system. An RMF can be used to damp the temperature fluctuations. Secondly, a more Czochralski-like system is examined. It turns out that the RMF does not provide the desired damping of the temperature fluctutions in the parameter range considered