Low-energy methods of mass transfer control at crystal growth

The experimental and theoretical data on influence of the rotating magnetic fields and the vibrations on the form of the crystallization front, the transversal and longitudinal composition distribution are discussed. Both these methods are effective tools for mass transfer control in the melt. The application of the rotating magnetic field allows to obtain simply and reliably a good homogeneity in the crystal cross-section. The effect of vibrations that can be applied to non-electroconducting melts too is not so well investigated yet, but the experiments performed have shown an efficiency of the vibration effect on component distribution in the growing crystal. The examples of application of the above-mentioned active mass transfer control methods for crystal growth experiments are given. (C) 2004 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.