Method for manufacturing semiconductor device, and semiconductor wafer

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: preparing a processed wafer having a gallium nitride (GaN) wafer and an epitaxial layer on the GaN wafer; forming a device constituent part in a portion of the processes wafer adjacent to a front surface provided by the epitaxial layer; forming a modified layer inside of the processed wafer by applying a laser beam from a back surface side opposite to the front surface side; and dividing the processed wafer at the modified layer. The processed wafer prepared includes a reflective layer for reflecting the laser beam at a position separated from a planned formation position, where the modified layer is to be formed, by a predetermined distance toward the front surface side. The reflective layer contains a layer having a refractive index different from that of a GaN single crystal of an epitaxial layer.