Industrial Ph.D. fellowship – on computer simulation of process instabilities in Float-Zone crystal growth

Location: Institute of Crystal Growth (Berlin) app. 75% of the time & Topsil GlobalWafers A/S (Frederikssund) the remaining time.

Would you like to work with computational modelling of phenomena involving thermal physics, fluid dynamics, electromagnetics, and mechanics? Then this could be an opportunity for you to do applied research together with Topsil GlobalWafers, a manufacturer of silicon wafers for the global semiconductor industry, and Institute of Crystal Growth!

About the job

The Ph.D. project will apply research to obtain a better understanding of process instabilities and transitional effects that occur during Float-Zone (FZ) crystal-growth of silicon. The instability phenomena will be studied mainly using computer simulations based on, e.g., the Finite-Element Method. The theoretical work will be validated via comparison with experimental crystal fabrication carried out in the project and data collected from decades of crystal-growth fabrication runs.

The FZ method is highly complex and involves melting of a feed rod and re-solidification into crystal form in a process that includes, e.g., induction heating, mechanical movements for controlling the crystal shape, gases for removing contaminants or adding dopants to control the properties of silicon, and flow-dynamics of molten silicon. The FZ method leads to ultra-pure silicon crystals being suitable for very-high-power electronic components.

The instabilities of interest in this research project are related to special behaviors in the crystal-growth with unstable growth-ridge formation or spiral growth, asymmetries in thermal stress that can lead to cracking or shattering of the crystal, asymmetries in the melting of the feed rod, and local instabilities in the melt flow. For the long term a better understanding of these instabilities will translate directly into better silicon production processes.

Organization of the Ph.D. project

The industrial Ph.D. project is a 4-year research project carried out as a cooperation between the private company Topsil GlobalWafers A/S, Frederikssund, Denmark, and Institute of Crystal Growth (IKZ), Berlin, Germany. You will formally be employed by Topsil GlobalWafers A/S. The job is well-paid with a Danish Ph.D. salary.

The project will be supervised by members of the R&D team at Topsil consisting of 10 people working with all areas of the development of FZ silicon technology including also computer simulation of silicon production. The production of FZ silicon for the global semiconductor industry takes place at our industrial-scale manufacturing facility in Frederikssund, Denmark, where you will also be located part of the time together with the R&D team.

Most of the time (75 %) you will spend at Institute of Crystal Growth (IKZ) in Berlin, Germany, having a broad expertise in both theoretical and experimental research on crystal growth processes. IKZ will assign academic supervisors to support your applied research on silicon production processes and has machines available for FZ silicon production on a smaller scale aimed at research. You will ultimately receive the Ph.D. degree from the Technical University of Berlin, which is possible as your supervisor at IKZ is also affiliated with TU Berlin.

Tentatively it is planned that you will be in Frederikssund for 3 periods of 3-6 months during the 4-year project, and the rest of the time you will be in Berlin.

About you

We imagine that you have a master’s degree in an engineering discipline or physics with a profile showing a talent for computational modelling and good understanding of the theoretical physics foundation for describing physical phenomena.

Interested?

We invite applicants for interviews on a continuous basis so please send your application, resume Bachelor’s and Master’s transcripts as soon as possible. For more information you are welcome to contact Thomas Møller Søndergaard, Simulation Specialist, at tms@gw-topsil.com or +45 2519 0463.

About Institute of Crystal Growth

Institute of Crystal Growth (https://www.ikz-berlin.de/en/) is the only research institute in Europe specialized in research on crystal growth. The institute has expertise in both experimental crystal-growth research, and theory and modelling of crystal growth.

About Topsil GlobalWafers

Topsil is an innovative manufacturing company that is a leading supplier of ultrapure silicon to the global semiconductor industry. Therefore, the company has contacts and business partners all over the world and cooperates internationally with universities and private organizations on research and development.

Topsil’s ultrapure silicon is primarily used for the most demanding purposes, and our products are developed based on years of experience and significant investments in new technology, facilities, and equipment. The products are used in electric cars, high-speed trains, electricity grids, wind turbines, and other green technology but also for more specialized applications within e.g., the pharmaceutical- and detector industry.

Extremely high-quality requirements are imposed on our products and production processes, and we work according to the IAFT 16949:2016 Automotive Quality Standard and we are also ISO certified in the environment, energy as well as working environment.

We are a bit over 200 employees, all gathered in Frederikssund where we keep production running 24/7. At Topsil, you will experience daily contact with a wide diversity of people and professional groups. We appreciate a good laugh and have an informal tone with respect for the individual. Topsil is a workplace where you benefit from dedicated colleagues and focus on life balance.

You can find more about your potential workplace on www.topsil.com or LinkedIn-Topsil.