The light distribution within the vertical double-ellipsoid mirror furnace applied for floating zone crystal growth with optical heating is studied. During the last few years, this setup was intensively applied for crystal growth of intermetallic and oxide materials due to its advantages for radiation focussing, which is superior in some key features compared to other commercial horizontal and vertical optical floating zone facilities. A point source model was used as a light source to reveal basic principles of the irradiation profile formation, which can strongly affect the melt flows, as well as the curvature and stability of crystallization front. Effects of the lamp displacement along the vertical optical axis with respect to the focal point of the lower elliptical mirror and the effect of mirror apertures were studied as the prime factors, which determine the light profile on the crystal. The efficiency of the light focusing in the presented optical configuration is discussed. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.