Patent ID: 7842133

Claim:
A method of growing a single crystal by melting nitrogen in a melted raw material within a vessel having a central axis “L” and a bottom face under a nitrogenous and non-oxidizing atmosphere, the method comprising: immersing a seed crystal and an agitation medium in a melted raw material, wherein said agitation medium has a spherical shape and at least a surface of said agitation medium comprises a material unreactive with the melted raw material; while the melted raw material is in contact with said agitation medium, oscillating the vessel around a rotating axis “R” with the central axis “L” of the vessel inclined at an angle θ with respect to an oscillating plane “T” that is perpendicular to the rotating axis “R” so that the agitation medium rolls on the bottom face of the vessel; and growing the single crystal on the seed crystal.