Numerical investigation of non-isothermal phase change phenomena in vertical Bridgman crystal growth

The non-isothermal phase change phenomena during the vertical Bridgman growth process for HgCdTe are numerically investigated using an interface capturing finite element scheme. The influence of the growth parameters such as Bi, Ste, U and the flow parameters including GrT and GrS on the non-isothermal phase change phenomena are obtained. Some new features about the melt/crystal interface shape, the temperature field near the interface and the flow field are revealed by comparing the non-isothermal phase change with the isothermal phase change. Furthermore, the comparison of the non-isothermal interfacial characteristics between the pure diffusion, the natural convection and the double-diffusive convection is made and the obvious differences are presented.