Numerical simulation of the horizontal Bridgman growth. Part I: Two-dimensional flow

We study the generation of periodic velocity and temperature fields in a plane horizontal crucible of molten metal under the action of a horizontal temperature gradient. The geometry and the boundary conditions are similar to those encountered in the Bridgman growth process of semiconductor crystals, although the present paper is limited to two-dimensional flows. We use transient finite difference and finite element algorithms which lead to identical results. We demonstrate the oscillatory mechanism in two different geometries.