Abstract
Downstream mass spectrometry is successfully used in the reactive ion-beam etching of dielectric diffraction gratings of deep grooves with vertical sidewalls to achieve in situ endpoint detection. Silica (SiO 2) gratings with a Sc 2O 3 etch-stop layer are fabricated by reactive ion-beam etching with CHF 3 as etchant, and the mass spectrometric signal of SiF 3 + produced by the reactive etching of the SiO 2 grating material is monitored. When the etch-stop layer is reached, a drop of this signal occurs. By comparing the monitoring curves and resulting gratings of different etching methods, we find that the decrease of the monitored signal is strongly influenced by the sidewall steepness of the etched grating grooves. All conditions being equal, the greater sidewall steepness renders the faster decrease of the signal. Consequently, the proposed approach of endpoint detection applies well to the gratings with steep sidewalls. With the help of two previously developed methods, the sidewall steepness of grating grooves is increased, and the optimal endpoint is detected. Employing the proposed technique, we have reproducibly fabricated dielectric gratings with proper groove depth and even groove bottom.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.