A numerical optimization method of the vertical Bridgman growth configuration is presented and developed. It permits to optimize the furnace temperature field and the pulling rate versus time in order to decrease the radial thermal gradients in the sample. Some constraints are also included in order to insure physically realistic results. The model includes the two classical non-linearities associated to crystal growth processes, the radiative thermal exchange and the release of latent heat at the solid-liquid interface. The mathematical analysis and development of the problem is shortly described. On some examples, it is shown that the method works in a satisfactory way; however the results are dependent on the numerical parameters. Improvements of the optimization model, on the physical and numerical point of view, are suggested. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.