Abstract: The flow and heat transfer of molten GaAs under the interaction of buoyancy, Marangoni and crystal rotation in the Czochralski configuration are numerically studied by using a time-dependent and three-dimensional turbulent flow model for the first time. The transition from axisymmetric flow to non-axisymmetric flow and then returning to axisymmetric flow again with increasing centrifugal and coriolis forces by increasing the crystal rotation rate was numerically observed. The origin of the transition to non-axisymmetric flow has been proved to be baroclinic instability. Several important characteristics of baroclinic instability in the CZ GaAs melt have been predicted. These characteristics are found to be in agreement with experimental observations.

Key words: Flow transition, Baroclinic instability, Thermal wave, Characteristics, GaAs melt