Abstract
Silicon oxynitride (SiON) layers deposited upon a $SiO_2/Si$ buffer layer placed upon silicon wafers have been obtained by using PECVD from $SiH_4,\;N_2O$, and $N_2$. It can be seen that the refractive index, measured by using a prism coupler, for the SiON films can be varied between 1.4480 and 1.4958 at a wavelength of 1552 nm by changing the process parameters. Optical planar waveguides with a thickness of $6{\mu}m$ and a refractive index contrast ($\Delta$n) of $0.36\% have been deposited. Also, etching experiments were performed using ICP dry etching equipment on thick SiON films grown onto Si substrates covered by a thick $SiO_2$ buffer layer. A polarization maintaining single-mode fiber was used for the input and a microscope objective for the output at $1.55{\mu}m$. As a result, a low index contrast SiON based waveguide is fabricated with easily adjustable refractive index of core layer. It illustrates that the output intensity mode is a waveguiding single-mode.
Silicon oxynitride (SiON) 막은 플라즈마 화학기상증착법(PECVD)으로 $SiH_4,\;N_2O$와 $N_2$ 가스를 사용하여 $SiO_2/Si$ 위해 증착되었다. 증착 변수에 따라서 SiON 막의 굴절률은 prism coupler를 사용하여 1552nm 파장에서 $1.4480\~1.4958$까지 변화하였다. 평판 광도파로 코어로 사용되는 SiON 막의 두께는 $6{\mu}m$이고, buffer 막과의 굴절률 차이(An)는 $0.36\%$이다. 또한 식각 공정으로 $SiO_2$ 막 위에 증착된 SiON 막은 건식식각을 통해서 수행되었다. 광화이버에 $1.55{\mu}m$ 파장의 레이저론 입력단에 조사하였다. 결과적으로 저굴절률 차이 SiON 광도파로를 제작하였으며, 출력단에서 single-mode 형상을 확인하였다.