METHOD FOR PROVIDING OPTICAL QUALITY SILICON SURFACE

摘要

A system and method for making an optical quality silicon surface on optical systems, including integrated optical waveguide device structures, is provided. A rough surface is formed through a dry etching process. Thermal oxide is grown on the surface either by a wet or dry oxidation process. A HF based solution is used to etch the grown oxide, reducing the surface roughness. The process may be performed repeatedly in order to obtain the desired amount of smoothness.