Use of Traveling magnetic fields to control melt convection

An axially traveling magnetic wave can be used to induce a meridional base flow in a cylindrical zone of an electrically conducting liquid, such as a crystal growth melt. This flow generated non-intrusively can be conveniently controlled, in magnitude and direction, to derive potential benefits for crystal growth applications. In particular, it can be used to effectively stir the melt in long cylindrical columns. It can be used to modify the species concentration field and the thermal field (to some degree) in the melt and to also affect the interface shape of the growing crystal. The basic theory of such an application is developed and preliminary data from a model fluids experiment, using a mercury column, are presented.