Growth Angle – a Microscopic View

Abstract: The growth angle that is formed between the side of the growing crystal and the melt meniscus is an important parameter in the detached Bridgman crystal growth method, where it determines the extent of the crystal-crucible wall gap, and in the Czochralski and float zone methods, where it influences the size and stability of the crystals. The growth angle is a non-equilibrium parameter, defined for the crystal growth process only. For a melt-crystal interface translating towards the crystal (m…