A numerical simulation study for the effect of applied magnetic field in growth of CdTe single crystals by the traveling heater method

A numerical simulation study was carried out for the growth of CdTe crystals by the Travelling Heater Method to examine the effects of applied stationary and rotating magnetic fields, and also small non-uniformities in the stationary magnetic field. A strong stationary field is applied to suppress the natural convection in the solution zone, and a small but rotating magnetic field is considered for better mixing in the horizontal plane. The spatial distribution of the stationary field is almost uniform before the furnace and the growth system are lowered into the magnet opening. However, the field uniformity may be altered by the presence of the growth system. In order to determine the effect of such field non-uniformities, small magnetic body force components are considered in the model. Results show that higher stationary field levels are better in suppressing convection in the solution, but enhance the compositional non-uniformity in the solution. Small but unintentional non-uniformities in the stationary magnetic field also enhance compositional non-uniformity. A rotating magnetic field, on the other hand, is beneficial for mixing in the horizontal plane, and reduces the compositional non-uniformity in the solution. Mixing is enhanced at higher rotating magnetic field frequencies.