Numerical investigation of the interfacial characteristics during Bridgman growth of compound crystals

The effects of the Bridgman process parameters and the double diffusive convection in the melt on the melt/solid interface shape and the solute distribution were numerically investigated for the II-VI semiconductor material HgCdTe. The results show that the melt/solid interface is concave at the center and the solute concentration at the interface is not uniform. A clockwise eddy forms near the interface in the melt when double diffusive convection is considered. With this eddy flow, the solute near the interface is well mixed so the solute distribution at the interface is very different from the case of no flow, but there are no significant changes in the interface shape or the thermal field. However, the growth parameters such as Bi, St, U and A significantly affect the melt/solid interface shape, position and the solute distribution at the interface. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.