Earth optimization of space experiment on growth of germanium by floating-zone technique with the use of rotating magnetic fields

Abstract

The results are considered of the earth experiments on growth of high-purity and Ga-doped germanium single crystals 15 mm in diameter and 60 mm in length, which were performed in a Zona-4 “space furnace” under the technological regimes close to those existing in space orbits. It is shown that the use of a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) factor [weak (0.15–0.2 mT) rotational (400 Hz) magnetic fields] during crystallization of semiconductors by the floating-zone technique is a very promising method for control of dopant distributions and electrophysical properties in a growing crystal. It is shown that in such magnetic fields, the effective coefficient of Ga distribution in Ge decreases by 10%. The shift of the donor-acceptor balance of the residual dopants in a compensated semiconductor during growth with the MHD-stirring of the melt was first established in growth of undoped germanium single crystals. It was also established that magnetic fields produce different effects on the resistivity microinhomogeneity in undoped and doped crystals. The mechanisms of the MHD effect on the properties of the grown crystals are discussed as well as the perspectives of performing analogous experiments aboard spacecrafts. It is predicted that, under the microgravitation conditions, the effects revealed in terrestrial experiments would be more pronounced.