To investigate the solution convection for the rotational Bridgman method. both flow patterns and temperature distributions in the In-Ga-Sb solution were calculated. In the three-dimensional model. In-Ga-Sb solution was put between a GaSb seed and feed crystals. where the seed and feed crystals were of cylindrical shape. and the In-Ga-Sb solution was of semi-cylindrical shape. The flow velocity in the In-Ga-Sb solution increased and the temperature distribution tended to be uniform with increase of the ampoule rotation rate. When the ampoule rotation rate was 0 rpm, the temperature difference at the solid-liquid interface increased With,in increase of the aspect ratio. However. with an increase of ampoule rotation rate, the temperature difference became small. The stirring effect of the ampoule rotation was enhanced with an increase of rotation rate Lis the forced convection became dominant in the In-Ga-Sb solution. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.