Abstract: Apparatus for automatically controlling, by stationary optical means, the diameter of a crystal from seed to final taper in a Czochralski crystal pulling method is disclosed. The diameter control has a feed back loop including diameter sensing means which controls a motor for moving the pulled crystal up faster or slower. The diameter, at any value, is sensed by two closely adjacent photocells receiving radiation from spaced points on the solid-liquid interface and a voltage value corresponding to that diameter is developed.When a constant diameter is being maintained and the diameter increases, the magnitudes of the sensed radiation change and a difference signal voltage in one direction is generated causing the crystal pull rate to increase. When the diameter decreases the magnitudes of the sensed radiation change in the reverse and a difference signal voltage in the opposite direction is generated causing crystal pull rate to decrease.