The effect of gravitational direction on the dissolution of GaSb crystal into InSb melt and the growth of InGaSb was investigated using GaSb(seed)/InSb/GaSb(feed) sandwich sample under a constant temperature gradient. In0.03Ga0.97Sb crystal was grown on a GaSb seed. A GaSb feed crystal dissolved into InSb melt to supply the GaSb component. The experiments were carried out in the gold furnace with different inclination angles (0) for gravitational direction, such as 0degrees (vertical), 53degrees (inclined), and 90degrees (horizontal) under 1 G condition. When theta = 0degrees, the interface was almost flat and parallel to the original interface of GaSb(seed)/InSb. On the contrary, the interfaces were strongly distorted when theta = 53degrees and 90degrees. The undissolved GaSb feed remained for theta = 0degrees. However, it completely dissolved for theta = 90degrees, and partially remained for theta = 53degrees. The length of compositional uniform area was different in these three cases. These facts indicated that the dissolution and growth processes were strongly influenced by gravitational direction. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.