Abstract: A seed holder for holding a seed crystal of gallium arsenide (GaAs) is fitted into one end of a cylindrical quartz boat in which a melt of gallium (Ga) and arsenic (As) is synthesized and then grown as a single crystal seeded by the seed crystal using the Bridgeman process or the gradient freeze process. The seed holder closely encompasses three sides of a crystal (e.g., of rectangular cross section) while exposing only the end upon which the crystal growth is to take place. The exposed end of the crystal seed is disposed above the bottom of the boat to prevent contact between the gallium melt and the seed until synthesis is nearly complete.