Process of forming epitaxial substrate and semiconductor optical device

Abstract

A process of forming a semiconductor optical device is disclosed. The semiconductor optical device provides a waveguide structure accompanied with a heater for varying a temperature of the waveguide structure. The process includes steps of: (a) forming a striped mask on a semiconductor substrate; (b) selectively growing a dummy layer on the semiconductor substrate; (c) removing the patterned mask; (d) burying the dummy layer by a supplemental layer; (e) exposing a portion of the dummy layer by etching a portion of the supplemental layer; (f) and removing the dummy layer by immersing the dummy layer within a solution that shows an etching rate for the dummy layer enough faster than an etching rate for the supplemental layer and the substrate so as to leave a void in a region the dummy layer had existed.