Patent ID: 8039282
Filing Date: 2011-10-18
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating a semiconductor optical device, the method comprising the steps of: forming a semiconductor region including an InP lower cladding layer, an active layer, an InP upper cladding layer and a capping layer sequentially, the capping layer being made of InGaAs, the active layer being made of aluminum-based III-V compound semiconductor; forming an oxidation layer by oxidizing a surface of the capping layer made of InGaAs layer: forming an insulating film on the oxidation layer; etching the insulation film to form a mask having a stripe shape, the mask being formed on the oxidation layer; etching the semiconductor region using the mask to form a semiconductor stripe mesa, the semiconductor stripe mesa including the InP lower cladding layer, the active layer, the InP upper cladding layer and the capping layer, a width of a top surface of the capping layer being greater than that of a bottom surface of the capping layer, a width of a top surface of the InP upper cladding layer being smaller than that of a bottom surface of the InP upper cladding layer, and a minimum width of the semiconductor stripe mesa being in the InP upper cladding layer; after forming the semiconductor stripe mesa, performing a thermal process of the semiconductor stripe mesa in an atmosphere to form a mass transport semiconductor on a side of the InP upper cladding layer, the atmosphere including V-group material containing a phosphorus; and After performing the thermal process, growing an InP burying layer on the substrate and the semiconductor stripe mesa by epitaxial growth.