Patent ID: 6989059

Claim:
A method for producing a compound semiconductor single crystal, comprising: providing semiconductor raw materials and an encapsulating material in a raw material melt housing comprising a closed-bottomed cylindrically-shaped first crucible and a second crucible having an open top portion and an opening in a bottom portion thereof communicating with the interior of said first crucible and said second crucible being disposed within the first crucible; covering said open top portion of the second crucible with a cover having an opening therein, heating the raw material housing to melt the raw materials, lowering a shaft through said opening in said cover of said second crucible to bring a seed crystal attached thereto into contact with the raw material melt in said first crucible, said second crucible being substantially sealed during said contacting by said cover; and growing a crystal while raising said shaft from said raw material melt, wherein the cover is fixed to said shaft, and said cover is supported at a top end of a side wall of the second crucible when the crystal pulling-up shaft is lowered.