The provided by the disclosure is a SiC single crystal production method permitting suppression of temperature variation of a Si—C solution even in a case of long-time crystal growth. The SiC single crystal production method includes: a preparation step of preparing a production apparatus including a crucible, a seed shaft, and an internal lid; a formation step of heating the material in the crucible to form the Si—C solution; a growth step of bringing the seed crystal into contact with the Si—C solution to produce the Si—C single crystal on the seed crystal; an internal lid adjustment step of vertically moving one of the internal lid and the crucible relative to the other during the growth step to keep an amount of variation in vertical distance between the internal lid and the Si—C solution within a first reference range.

The provided by the disclosure is a SiC single crystal production method permitting suppression of temperature variation of a Si—C solution even in a case of long-time crystal growth. The SiC single crystal production method includes: a preparation step of preparing a production apparatus including a crucible, a seed shaft, and an internal lid; a formation step of heating the material in the crucible to form the Si—C solution; a growth step of bringing the seed crystal into contact with the Si—C solution to produce the Si—C single crystal on the seed crystal; an internal lid adjustment step of vertically moving one of the internal lid and the crucible relative to the other during the growth step to keep an amount of variation in vertical distance between the internal lid and the Si—C solution within a first reference range.

An apparatus for producing an SiC single crystal includes a crucible for accommodating an Si—C solution and a seed shaft having a lower end surface where an SiC seed crystal (36) would be attached. The seed shaft includes an inner pipe that extends in a height direction of the crucible and has a first passage. An outer pipe accommodates the inner pipe and constitutes a second passage between itself and the inner pipe and has a bottom portion whose lower end surface covers a lower end opening of the outer pipe. One passage of the first and second passages serves as an introduction passage where coolant gas flows downward, and the other passage serves as a discharge passage where coolant gas flows upward. A region inside the pipe that constitutes the introduction passage is to be overlapped by a region of not less than 60% of the SiC seed crystal.

An apparatus for producing an SiC single crystal includes a crucible for accommodating an Si—C solution and a seed shaft having a lower end surface where an SiC seed crystal (36) would be attached. The seed shaft includes an inner pipe that extends in a height direction of the crucible and has a first passage. An outer pipe accommodates the inner pipe and constitutes a second passage between itself and the inner pipe and has a bottom portion whose lower end surface covers a lower end opening of the outer pipe. One passage of the first and second passages serves as an introduction passage where coolant gas flows downward, and the other passage serves as a discharge passage where coolant gas flows upward. A region inside the pipe that constitutes the introduction passage is to be overlapped by a region of not less than 60% of the SiC seed crystal.

Provided are an SiC single-crystal ingot containing an SiC single crystal having a low threading dislocation density and low resistivity; an SiC single crystal; and a production method for the SiC single crystal. The SiC single crystal ingot contains a seed crystal and a grown crystal grown by a solution process in which the seed crystal is the base point, the grown crystal of the SiC single crystal ingot containing a nitrogen density gradient layer in which the nitrogen content increases in the direction of growth from the seed crystal.

Provided are an SiC single-crystal ingot containing an SiC single crystal having a low threading dislocation density and low resistivity; an SiC single crystal; and a production method for the SiC single crystal. The SiC single crystal ingot contains a seed crystal and a grown crystal grown by a solution process in which the seed crystal is the base point, the grown crystal of the SiC single crystal ingot containing a nitrogen density gradient layer in which the nitrogen content increases in the direction of growth from the seed crystal.

A low-resistance p-type SiC single crystal containing no inclusions is provided. This is achieved by a method for producing a SiC single crystal wherein a SiC seed crystal substrate 14 is contacted with a Si—C solution 24 having a temperature gradient in which the temperature falls from the interior toward the surface, to grow a SiC single crystal, and wherein the method comprises: using, as the Si—C solution, a Si—C solution containing Si, Cr and Al, wherein the Al content is 3 at % or greater based on the total of Si, Cr and Al, and making the temperature gradient y (° C./cm) in the surface region of the Si—C solution 24 satisfy the following formula (1): y≧0.15789x+21.52632 (1) wherein x represents the Al content (at %) of the Si—C solution.

A low-resistance p-type SiC single crystal containing no inclusions is provided. This is achieved by a method for producing a SiC single crystal wherein a SiC seed crystal substrate 14 is contacted with a Si—C solution 24 having a temperature gradient in which the temperature falls from the interior toward the surface, to grow a SiC single crystal, and wherein the method comprises: using, as the Si—C solution, a Si—C solution containing Si, Cr and Al, wherein the Al content is 3 at % or greater based on the total of Si, Cr and Al, and making the temperature gradient y (° C./cm) in the surface region of the Si—C solution 24 satisfy the following formula (1): y≧0.15789x+21.52632 (1) wherein x represents the Al content (at %) of the Si—C solution.

A method and apparatus for manufacturing an SiC single crystal includes a graphite crucible for receiving an SiC solution with first and second induction heating coils wound around it. The first induction heating coil is located higher than the surface of the SiC solution. The second induction heating coil is located lower than the first induction heating coil. A power supply supplies a first alternating current to the first induction heating coil and supplies, to the second induction heating coil, a second alternating current having the same frequency as the first alternating current and flowing in the direction opposite to that of the first alternating current. The distance between the surface of the SiC solution and the position in the portion of the side wall of the crucible in contact with the SiC solution with the strength of a magnetic field at its maximum satisfies a predetermined equation.

Methods of forming a near field transducer (NFT), the methods including the steps of depositing plasmonic material on a substrate; laser annealing at least a portion of the deposited plasmonic material at a wavelength from 100 nm to 2.0 micrometers (μm) to induce liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) in the annealed deposited plasmonic material to form a epitaxially modified plasmonic material; and forming a NFT from at least a portion of the epitaxially modified plasmonic material are disclosed as well as other methods and devices such as those formed.