Patent ID: 8236698

Claim:
A method for forming microcavities of different depths in a layer based on at least an amorphous or monocrystalline material, comprising at least the following steps in which: forming at least one shaft and/or trench, in the layer, to extend through one face thereof, such that two sections of the shaft and/or the trench, in two different planes parallel to said face of the layer, are aligned in relation to one another along an alignment axis forming a non-zero angle with a normal to the plane of said face of the layer, wherein the forming comprises: forming a hole, in the layer, comprising at least side walls inclined along a non-zero angle in relation to the normal to the plane of said face of the layer, deposition or epitaxy of a second layer, based on at least one second material that can be selectively etched in relation to the amorphous or monocrystalline material, on at least one side wall of the hole, deposition or epitaxy of a third layer, based on at least one third material, the second material being able to be etched selectively in relation to this third material, at least on the second layer, eliminating at least a part of the second layer, the released space forming the shaft and/or the trench; and annealing of the layer under hydrogenated atmosphere so as to transform the shaft and/or the trench into at least two microcavities.