A linear evaporation source suited for the production of CIGS thin films for depositing a metal or semi-metal source material on a substrate , the evaporation source comprising: a crucible comprising: a base ; a plurality of walls surrounding an interior region of the crucible , the plurality of walls including a first end wall (202 1 ) spaced apart from a second end wall (202 2 ) in a first direction (Y), wherein the interior region includes a first outer region (204 1 ), a second outer region (204 2 ) and a central region (204 3 ), the central region (204 3 ) disposed between the first outer region (204 1 ) and the second outer region (204 2 ); and each of the first outer region (204 1 ), the second outer region (204 2 ), and the central region (204 3 ) has a same width in the first direction (Y); and a first heater disposed in the base , the first heater configured to provide heat at a higher rate to the first outer region (204 1 ) than to the central region (204 3 ), whereby said first heater is configured as a heating cable substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said linear evaporation source . a crucible comprising: a base ; a plurality of walls surrounding an interior region of the crucible , the plurality of walls including a first end wall (202 1 ) spaced apart from a second end wall (202 2 ) in a first direction (Y), wherein the interior region includes a first outer region (204 1 ), a second outer region (204 2 ) and a central region (204 3 ), the central region (204 3 ) disposed between the first outer region (204 1 ) and the second outer region (204 2 ); and each of the first outer region (204 1 ), the second outer region (204 2 ), and the central region (204 3 ) has a same width in the first direction (Y); and a first heater disposed in the base , the first heater configured to provide heat at a higher rate to the first outer region (204 1 ) than to the central region (204 3 ), whereby said first heater is configured as a heating cable substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said linear evaporation source . a base ; a plurality of walls surrounding an interior region of the crucible , the plurality of walls including a first end wall (202 1 ) spaced apart from a second end wall (202 2 ) in a first direction (Y), wherein the interior region includes a first outer region (204 1 ), a second outer region (204 2 ) and a central region (204 3 ), the central region (204 3 ) disposed between the first outer region (204 1 ) and the second outer region (204 2 ); and each of the first outer region (204 1 ), the second outer region (204 2 ), and the central region (204 3 ) has a same width in the first direction (Y); and the interior region includes a first outer region (204 1 ), a second outer region (204 2 ) and a central region (204 3 ), the central region (204 3 ) disposed between the first outer region (204 1 ) and the second outer region (204 2 ); and each of the first outer region (204 1 ), the second outer region (204 2 ), and the central region (204 3 ) has a same width in the first direction (Y); and a first heater disposed in the base , the first heater configured to provide heat at a higher rate to the first outer region (204 1 ) than to the central region (204 3 ), whereby said first heater is configured as a heating cable substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said linear evaporation source . <EOS>