The effect of temperature field of the growth system on the morphology
of the Pb0.8Sn0.2Te solid-vapour interface is studied. The first stag
e of seed formation and growth in a novel method of self nucleation an
d growth without contact with ampoule wall [K. Grasza et al., J. Cryst
al Growth 123 (1992) 519] is discussed. The seeds were grown in differ
ent temperature profiles with the same growth velocity and at the same
temperature. The resulting crystals were always strongly faceted, wit
h a stable solid-Vapour interface, if the radial temperature gradient
inside the crystal was large. The solid-vapour interface was unstable,
if the radial temperature gradient inside the crystal was low.