Patent ID: 8198113

Claim:
A semiconductor light emitting device production method comprising: (a) a step of preparing a growth substrate, (b) a step of producing a semiconductor film containing a first semiconductor layer of a first electrical conduction type, an active layer, and a second semiconductor layer of a second electrical conduction type, each represented as Al x In y Ga z N (0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, 0≦z≦1, x+y+z=1), on said growth substrate, said layers arranged in this order from the growth substrate side, (c) a step of preparing a support, (d) a step of producing a metal layer on at least one of said semiconductor film and said support and joining said semiconductor film and said support with said metal layer sandwiched thereinbetween, (e) a step of irradiating the peripheral region of said growth substrate with a laser beam to separate said growth substrate from said semiconductor film in said peripheral region, (f) a step of irradiating portions on the inner side of the peripheral region of said growth substrate with a laser beam, while leaving unirradiated portions, to separate and remove said growth substrate from said semiconductor film, and (g) a step of removing portions of said semiconductor film where said growth substrate has already been separated and removed, to set up regions where semiconductor light emitting devices are to be produced, wherein a laser beam with a first energy density is applied in said step (e), and a laser beam with a second energy density that is lower than said first energy density is applied in said step (f).