Patent ID: 6734111
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A method of obtaining nitride layers on arbitrary structures located on GaAs-based lasers by using dry etching to obtain contamination free surfaces on a material chosen from the group consisting of GaAs, GaAlAs, InGaAsP, and InGaAs, comprising:providing a prospective laser surface with a mask masking away parts of the laser surface to be prevented from dry etching, the laser surface being of a material of the group consisting of GaAs, GaAlAs, InGaAsP, and InGaAs; placing the laser surface in a vacuum; performing dry etching of the laser surface to obtain an etched surface with a surface structure using a substance assisted plasma comprising nitrogen and another gas, said dry etching being performed while said another gas being gradually replaced by nitrogen until only nitrogen plasma is provided; creating a native nitride layer on the etched surface using plasma containing nitrogen, to nitridize the etched surface of the laser surface; adding a further layer of one of a protective layer and a mirror coating over said native nitride layer.