Experimental investigation on the electromagnetically controlled buoyancy-induced flow in a model of a Czochralski puller

Abstract

A great deal of work with respect to both physical and numerical modelling of Czochralski crystal growth has been conducted in the generic Rayleigh-Benard system. In order to come closer to the conditions in a real Czochralski puller, specific effects such as the influence of a rounded crucible bottom, deviations of the thermal boundary conditions from the generic case, crucible and/or crystal rotation, and the influence of magnetic fields are often studied separately. Within this paper we present a model experiment focusing on investigations of the impact of magnetic fields on the flow in a Czochralski puller. To achieve similar thermal boundary conditions as in an industrial growth facility, a double-walled rounded bottom glass crucible was chosen to hold the fluid. Similarity of the heat transfer conditions was guaranteed by selecting the ternary alloy GaInSn as the model fluid. Measurements of the fluid flow have been conducted by means of the ultrasound Doppler velocimetry. The results reveal the complex flow structure of natural convection in a Czochralski crucible. Because the growth of high quality mono-crystalline crystals is impeded by such a non-axisymmetric flow, rotating magnetic fields (RMF) are often proposed to render the flow more axisymmetric. To study the effect of an RMF on the natural convection in a Czochralski system the experimental apparatus was mounted inside the home-made MULTIpurpose MAGnetic field facility (MULTIMAG). In the present contribution the three-dimensional convective patterns as well as the resulting temperature fluctuations will be discussed both for the pure buoyant case and for the application of an RMF.