Use of an inhomogeneous magnetic field for silicon crystal growth

The flow of liquid silicon and oxygen transfer during crystal growth under three different types of cusp-shaped magnetic field were clarified using numerical simulation, flow visualization, and infrared measurement of oxygen concentration in grown crystals. Velocity vectors obtained from numerical simulation are almost parallel to cusp-shaped magnetic fields since flow parallel to a magnetic field does not produce a Lorentz force. This parallel flow enhances homogenization of oxygen concentration along the radial direction in grown crystals. Cusp-shaped magnetic fields can control the flow velocity at the top of the melt. Since melt with a low concentration of oxygen at the top of the melt transfers directly from the free surface to the solid-liquid interface, a low concentration of oxygen in crystals can be achieved. Separation of fluid flow between the near surface and bulk can produce a spatial distribution of the concentration in the melt, and therefore a low oxygen concentration can be obtained in grown crystals.