Abstract: A crucible includes an outer element and an inner element. The outer element includes a first portion that is horizontal at a bottom end of the crucible and a second portion that ascends radially outwardly from the bottom end of the crucible to a top end of the crucible at a first acute angle to a vertical axis. The inner element includes a conus with a cylinder at a base of the conus. The conus descends radially outwardly from the top end of the crucible to the bottom end of the crucible at a second acute angle to the vertical axis. The inner element includes a base portion of the cylinder attached to the first portion of the outer element using a sealant to form a hollow mold between an inner portion of the outer element and an outer portion of the inner element.

Abstract: A crucible includes an outer element and an inner element. The outer element includes a first portion that is horizontal at a bottom end of the crucible and a second portion that ascends radially outwardly from the bottom end of the crucible to a top end of the crucible at a first acute angle to a vertical axis. The inner element includes a conus with a cylinder at a base of the conus. The conus descends radially outwardly from the top end of the crucible to the bottom end of the crucible at a second acute angle to the vertical axis. The inner element includes a base portion of the cylinder attached to the first portion of the outer element using a sealant to form a hollow mold between an inner portion of the outer element and an outer portion of the inner element.

Abstract: A furnace includes a pedestal, a crucible, first and second heaters, and a controller. The crucible is arranged on a pedestal that is movable downwardly and is rotatable. The first and second heaters are spaced vertically along an outer wall of the crucible and are arranged around the crucible to heat pieces of solid material deposited in the crucible. A third heater is arranged above the crucible if the crucible includes a solid cylindrical mold or in a hollow cylindrical space of the crucible if the crucible includes a hollow cylindrical mold. The controller is configured to control the first and second heaters to heat the pieces of the solid material to form a melted liquid. The controller is configured to control the rotational and downward movements of the pedestal relative to the first and second heaters during solidification of the melted liquid to form an ingot.

Abstract: A process for eliminating dislocations in a neck of a large-diameter single crystal silicon ingot is provided. The process comprises controlling heat transfer at the melt/solid interface to eliminate dislocations over a reduced axial length in the neck portion of a large-diameter single crystal silicon ingot grown in accordance with the Czochralski method, thereby increasing overall process throughput and yield.