CONVECTIVE INSTABILITIES IN MELT GROWTH CONFIGURATIONS

Convective instability occurs in various melt growth configurations if the rates of the flows which are driven by buoyancy, thermocapillary and forced convection exceed a certain critical value. The parameter ranges of the regimes of unsteady convection are discussed for certain melt growth configurations. The correlation between unsteady convection (fluctuations of the melt temperature) and the crystal composition (striations) is demonstrated by using results of theoretical analysis and experimental studies. Finally, it is discussed how the occurrence of convective instability can be avoided in the various melt growth configurations.