JP4521859B2 - Polarization inversion formation method - Google Patents

Polarization inversion formation method Download PDF

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JP4521859B2
JP4521859B2 JP2004089890A JP2004089890A JP4521859B2 JP 4521859 B2 JP4521859 B2 JP 4521859B2 JP 2004089890 A JP2004089890 A JP 2004089890A JP 2004089890 A JP2004089890 A JP 2004089890A JP 4521859 B2 JP4521859 B2 JP 4521859B2
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substrate
region
ridge
polarization inversion
back surface
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JP2005275121A (en
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太 山本
潤一郎 市川
直 栗村
健二 北村
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Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co Ltd
National Institute for Materials Science
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National Institute for Materials Science
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Description

本発明は、強誘電体基板の所望領域を分極反転させる分極反転形成方法に関し、特に強誘電体基板が表面に凹凸構造を有し、該凸部の一部を含む領域の基板を分極反転するための分極反転形成方法に関する。   The present invention relates to a polarization inversion formation method for reversing the polarization of a desired region of a ferroelectric substrate, and in particular, the ferroelectric substrate has a concavo-convex structure on the surface, and the substrate in a region including a part of the projection is reversed. The present invention relates to a method for forming domain inversion.

光通信や光計測の分野において、波長変換素子や光変調器などの光学素子が利用されている。
波長変換素子の例としては、以下の特許文献1に示すように、強誘電体LiNbOなどの電気光学効果を有する基板上に周期的な分極反転構造を形成しているものがある。
また、光変調器の例としては、以下の特許文献2に示すように、電気光学効果を有する基板上に光導波路を形成すると共に、該光導波路に係る基板の一部を分極反転させ、チャープ発生の抑制や変調強度の消光比の向上を図るものが提案されている。
特開2000−147584 特開2003−202530
In the fields of optical communication and optical measurement, optical elements such as wavelength conversion elements and optical modulators are used.
As an example of the wavelength conversion element, there is one in which a periodic domain-inverted structure is formed on a substrate having an electro-optic effect such as ferroelectric LiNbO 3 as shown in Patent Document 1 below.
Further, as an example of an optical modulator, as shown in Patent Document 2 below, an optical waveguide is formed on a substrate having an electro-optic effect, and a part of the substrate related to the optical waveguide is polarized and inverted to obtain a chirp. Proposals have been made to suppress generation and improve the extinction ratio of modulation intensity.
JP 2000-147484 A JP 2003-202530 A

このような強誘電体基板上に分極反転領域を形成する方法としては、Ti熱拡散による方法、SiOを装荷した後に熱処理する方法、プロトン交換処理と熱処理とを行う方法などがある。また、強誘電体の自発分極が電界により反転することを利用して、約20kV/mm以上の電界を印加することにより、分極反転領域を形成する方法が知られている。
特に、電界の印加による分極反転は、分極反転領域を正確に形成できると共に、形成方法が簡便であることなどの理由から、分極反転形成方法として良く利用されている。
As a method for forming such a domain-inverted region on a ferroelectric substrate, there are a method using Ti thermal diffusion, a method in which heat treatment is performed after loading SiO 2 , a method in which proton exchange treatment and heat treatment are performed, and the like. In addition, a method is known in which a polarization inversion region is formed by applying an electric field of about 20 kV / mm or more by utilizing the fact that the spontaneous polarization of a ferroelectric substance is inverted by an electric field.
In particular, polarization reversal by application of an electric field is often used as a polarization reversal formation method because the polarization reversal region can be accurately formed and the formation method is simple.

電界を用いた分極反転形成方法としては、図1に示すように、基板1の上面及び下面に電極2,3を形成し、両電極間に電圧4を印加することにより形成する方法や、図2に示すように、基板1の上面に絶縁性のマスクパターン5を施し、電極6及び7により、シール部材8,9を介して該基板を狭持すると共に、基板1と各電極6,7との間に導電性液体を充填し、電極6,7に電圧4を印加する方法などが知られている。なお、電極6及び7の代わりにアクリル板などの絶縁材料を利用する場合には、電圧4からの給電用に、電線を導電性液体に直接接触させるよう構成される。
これらの方法により、図1の場合には、電極2のパターンに応じた分極反転領域が、また、図2の場合には、マスクパターン5が形成されていない領域に対応した分極反転領域が、各々形成される。
As a method for forming domain inversion using an electric field, as shown in FIG. 1, the electrodes 2 and 3 are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate 1 and a voltage 4 is applied between the electrodes. 2, an insulating mask pattern 5 is provided on the upper surface of the substrate 1, and the substrate 6 is held between the electrodes 6 and 7 via the seal members 8 and 9. A method in which a conductive liquid is filled between the electrodes 6 and 7 and a voltage 4 is applied to the electrodes 6 and 7 is known. When an insulating material such as an acrylic plate is used instead of the electrodes 6 and 7, the electric wire is configured to directly contact the conductive liquid for power supply from the voltage 4.
By these methods, in the case of FIG. 1, the domain-inverted region corresponding to the pattern of the electrode 2, and in the case of FIG. 2, the domain-inverted region corresponding to the region where the mask pattern 5 is not formed, Each is formed.

他方、光変調器などの光学素子において、駆動電圧の低下、インピーダンスマッチング、広帯域化などを目的として、リッジ構造を有する光学素子が実用化されている。
図3(a)は、リッジ構造を有する光学素子を示す斜視図であり、図3(b)は、図3(a)の一点鎖線Aにおける基板の断面図を示す。なお、図面では、光学素子を制御するための電極等は省略されている。
図3では、強誘電体基板1に、光導波路12を形成すると共に、該光導波路12を含む部分にリッジ10が形成されている。さらに、光導波路12の一部に、分極反転領域11を形成する構成を図示している。
On the other hand, in an optical element such as an optical modulator, an optical element having a ridge structure has been put into practical use for the purpose of lowering driving voltage, impedance matching, broadening the band, and the like.
FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing an optical element having a ridge structure, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the substrate taken along one-dot chain line A in FIG. In the drawing, electrodes for controlling the optical elements are omitted.
In FIG. 3, an optical waveguide 12 is formed on the ferroelectric substrate 1, and a ridge 10 is formed in a portion including the optical waveguide 12. Further, a configuration in which the polarization inversion region 11 is formed in a part of the optical waveguide 12 is illustrated.

図3のように、強誘電体基板の表面にリッジなどの凹凸構造を有し、しかも該凸部の一部を含む領域に分極反転を形成する方法としては、図4に示すように、強誘電体基板の一部を分極反転した後、該基板の表面におけるリッジを形成する領域以外を、機械的な切削や化学的なエッチングなどにより、選択的に除去する方法が一般的である。   As shown in FIG. 4, as a method of forming polarization inversion in a region having a ridge or other rugged structure on the surface of a ferroelectric substrate as shown in FIG. A method is generally employed in which a part of a dielectric substrate is subjected to polarization inversion, and then a region other than a region where a ridge is formed on the surface of the substrate is selectively removed by mechanical cutting or chemical etching.

具体的な手順は、まず最初に、図4(a)に示すように、強誘電体基板1の表面に所望のパターンを有する電極20と、該基板の裏面全体に電極21を形成する。次に、該電極20と21との間に、電圧源22により、高電圧を印加し、電極20のパターンに対応した領域の基板を分極反転11させる。
その後、基板上の電極20,21を除去すると共に、基板1の表面に形成するリッジの形状に対応して、マスクを形成し、該マスク以外の基板表面を、ドライエッチング、ウエットエッチングなどにより化学的に除去、あるいは、サンドブラストや切削加工などにより機械的に除去することで、リッジ23を形成する(図4(b)参照)。なお、図4以降の図面においては、本発明の説明を容易にするため、図3(b)に相当する基板の断面図では、光導波路が形成される基板領域以外における基板表面の凹凸を省略して記載する。
Specifically, first, as shown in FIG. 4A, an electrode 20 having a desired pattern on the surface of the ferroelectric substrate 1 and an electrode 21 are formed on the entire back surface of the substrate. Next, a high voltage is applied between the electrodes 20 and 21 by the voltage source 22, and the substrate in a region corresponding to the pattern of the electrode 20 is subjected to polarization inversion 11.
Thereafter, the electrodes 20 and 21 on the substrate are removed, a mask is formed corresponding to the shape of the ridge formed on the surface of the substrate 1, and the surface of the substrate other than the mask is chemically etched by dry etching, wet etching, or the like. The ridge 23 is formed by mechanical removal or mechanical removal by sandblasting or cutting (see FIG. 4B). In FIG. 4 and subsequent drawings, in order to facilitate the explanation of the present invention, in the cross-sectional view of the substrate corresponding to FIG. 3B, the unevenness of the substrate surface other than the substrate region where the optical waveguide is formed is omitted. And describe.

しかしながら、化学的な除去においては、分極反転した領域とそれ以外の領域とでは、エッチングの速度や方向が異なるため、所望のリッジを形成することが難しく、また、機械的な除去においては、基板全体に多くの衝撃が付加されるため、基板割れが生じ易くなるという欠点を生じる。   However, in chemical removal, it is difficult to form a desired ridge because the etching speed and direction are different between the polarization-reversed region and the other region, and in mechanical removal, the substrate is difficult to form. Since many impacts are applied to the whole, there is a disadvantage that the substrate is easily cracked.

このため、強誘電体基板上にリッジを形成した後、該基板所望の領域に分極反転を行うことが求められている。
図5では、リッジ形成後に分極反転を行う場合の方法を図示したものである。
最初に、基板1の表面に光導波路30を形成し(図5(a)参照)、次に、基板1の表面のリッジを形成する領域にマスク部材31を設け、エッチング等によりマスク部材31が形成された領域以外を除去し、リッジ32を形成する。
For this reason, after forming a ridge on a ferroelectric substrate, it is required to reverse the polarization in a desired region of the substrate.
FIG. 5 illustrates a method in which polarization inversion is performed after ridge formation.
First, an optical waveguide 30 is formed on the surface of the substrate 1 (see FIG. 5A). Next, a mask member 31 is provided in a region where a ridge is formed on the surface of the substrate 1, and the mask member 31 is formed by etching or the like. Except for the formed region, the ridge 32 is formed.

リッジ32を形成した後の基板1を分極反転するには、図5(d)のように、基板1の表面の所望の領域に電極33を形成し、他方、基板1の裏面には全面に電極34を形成する。そして、両者の電極33,34の間に、高電圧35を印加することにより、電極33のパターンに対応した基板の領域を、分極反転36することができる。
分極反転後は、電極33,34を除去することにより、図5(e)のように、リッジを有する基板の一部を分極反転したものを得ることができる。
In order to reverse the polarization of the substrate 1 after the ridge 32 is formed, an electrode 33 is formed in a desired region on the surface of the substrate 1 as shown in FIG. An electrode 34 is formed. Then, by applying a high voltage 35 between the electrodes 33 and 34, the region of the substrate corresponding to the pattern of the electrode 33 can be subjected to polarization inversion 36.
After the polarization inversion, by removing the electrodes 33 and 34, it is possible to obtain a substrate in which a part of the substrate having a ridge is inverted as shown in FIG.

しかしながら、図5に示す分極反転方法によると、図5(d)のリッジに形成した電極33のエッジ部37に電界が集中し、基板の割れが生じ易く、しかも、リッジとそれ以外の領域とに渡って分極反転を形成する場合には、リッジとそれ以外の領域とでは基板の厚みが異なるため、電界の強さが異なり、分極反転時の電圧調整が複雑化するなどの弊害を生じる。   However, according to the polarization inversion method shown in FIG. 5, the electric field concentrates on the edge portion 37 of the electrode 33 formed on the ridge of FIG. 5D, the substrate is easily cracked, and the ridge and other regions When the polarization inversion is formed over a wide range, the thickness of the substrate is different between the ridge and the other region, so that the strength of the electric field is different and the voltage adjustment at the time of polarization inversion is complicated.

他方、図5(c)のリッジを形成した基板1を分極反転する方法として、図6及び7のように絶縁性マスクを利用する方法がある。
図6では、基板1の表面に分極反転の形成領域以外に絶縁性マスク40を形成し、図2と同様に、電極42及び43により、シール部材41を介して該基板を狭持すると共に、基板1と各電極42,43との間に導電性液体45,46を充填し、電極42,43に高電圧44を印加する。
これにより、絶縁性マスク40が形成されていない領域の基板を分極反転47することが可能となる。分極反転後、絶縁性マスクは剥離される。
On the other hand, as a method for reversing the polarization of the substrate 1 on which the ridge shown in FIG. 5C is formed, there is a method using an insulating mask as shown in FIGS.
In FIG. 6, an insulating mask 40 is formed on the surface of the substrate 1 other than the region where the polarization inversion is formed, and the substrate is sandwiched by the electrodes 42 and 43 via the seal member 41 as in FIG. Conductive liquids 45 and 46 are filled between the substrate 1 and the electrodes 42 and 43, and a high voltage 44 is applied to the electrodes 42 and 43.
This makes it possible to reverse the polarity 47 of the substrate in the region where the insulating mask 40 is not formed. After the polarization inversion, the insulating mask is peeled off.

また、図7では、基板1の裏面に分極反転の形成領域以外に絶縁性マスク50を形成し、図2又は6と同様に、電極52及び53により、シール部材51を介して該基板を狭持すると共に、基板1と各電極52,53との間に導電性液体55,56を充填し、電極52,53に高電圧54を印加する。
そして、絶縁性マスク50が形成されていない領域の基板を分極反転57し、その後、絶縁性マスク50は除去される。
In FIG. 7, an insulating mask 50 is formed on the back surface of the substrate 1 in a region other than the region where the polarization inversion is formed, and the substrate is narrowed by the electrodes 52 and 53 via the seal member 51 as in FIG. In addition, the conductive liquids 55 and 56 are filled between the substrate 1 and the electrodes 52 and 53, and a high voltage 54 is applied to the electrodes 52 and 53.
Then, the substrate in the region where the insulating mask 50 is not formed is subjected to polarization inversion 57, and then the insulating mask 50 is removed.

しかしながら、図6及び図7に記載の絶縁性マスクを利用した分極反転する方法においては、絶縁性マスク材料として、強誘電体基板1より高い抵抗値を有する材料を選定する必要があり、使用する材料が限定されるという問題がある。
しかも、絶縁性マスクとして一般に広く利用されているレジストマスクを利用する場合には、レジストマスクの抵抗値を高めるため、ハードベーク処理が有効手段となるが、分極反転後のレジストマスク剥離が困難となる上、加熱処理により意図しない微小の分極反転領域(マイクロドメイン)が基板全体に導入され、分極反転領域の制御精度が低下するとともに、波長変換素子や光変調器など分極反転構造を利用したデバイスの動作不良や特性劣化が懸念されることとなる。
However, in the method of reversing polarization using the insulating mask shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, it is necessary to select a material having a higher resistance value than the ferroelectric substrate 1 as the insulating mask material. There is a problem that the material is limited.
Moreover, when using a resist mask that is generally widely used as an insulating mask, hard baking is an effective means for increasing the resistance value of the resist mask, but it is difficult to remove the resist mask after polarization inversion. In addition, unintended minute domain-inverted regions (microdomains) are introduced to the entire substrate by heat treatment, and the control accuracy of the domain-inverted regions is reduced, and devices using domain-inverted structures such as wavelength conversion elements and optical modulators. There is a concern about the operation failure and the characteristic deterioration.

また、絶縁性マスクの抵抗値が十分に高くできない場合には、図6の48や図7の58に示すように、分極反転領域が、意図しない基板領域まで広がることがあり、分極反転領域の形成を正確に制御することが困難となる。   If the resistance value of the insulating mask cannot be sufficiently high, the domain-inverted region may extend to an unintended substrate region as shown by 48 in FIG. 6 or 58 in FIG. It becomes difficult to accurately control the formation.

本発明の目的は、上述した問題を解決し、強誘電体基板の表面に、リッジなどの凹凸構造を有するものにおいて、該凸部の一部を含む領域の基板を、精度良く分極反転するための分極反転形成方法を提供することである。   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and to accurately reverse the polarity of a substrate in a region including a part of the convex portion in a surface having a concavo-convex structure such as a ridge on the surface of a ferroelectric substrate. The present invention provides a method for forming a domain inversion.

上記課題を解決するために、請求項1に係る発明では、強誘電体基板と、該基板表面に凹凸構造を形成し、その後、該凸部の一部を含む領域の基板を分極反転する分極反転形成方法において、分極反転する領域の内、少なくとも該凸部が形成された領域の基板裏面に凹部を形成し、該凹部の深さは、該凹部が形成された基板表面の凸部の高さより大きく、かつ該凹部の幅は、該基板裏面の凹部を形成する領域における基板表面の凸部の幅より広くなるよう設定され、該基板に分極反転のための電界を液体電極を介して印加することを特徴とする。 In order to solve the above-described problem, in the invention according to claim 1, a polarization that reversely polarizes a ferroelectric substrate and a substrate in a region including a part of the convex portion after forming a concavo-convex structure on the surface of the substrate. In the inversion forming method, a recess is formed on the back surface of the substrate in at least the region where the projection is formed in the region where polarization is inverted, and the depth of the recess is the height of the projection on the substrate surface where the recess is formed. And the width of the concave portion is set to be wider than the width of the convex portion on the substrate surface in the region where the concave portion on the back surface of the substrate is formed, and an electric field for polarization inversion is applied to the substrate via the liquid electrode. It is characterized by doing.

また、請求項に係る発明では、請求項1に記載の分極反転形成方法において、分極反転を形成した後、該基板裏面における該凹部以外の領域の少なくとも一部の基板裏面を除去することを特徴とする。 Further, in the invention according to claim 2 , in the method for forming domain inversion according to claim 1, after the domain inversion is formed, at least a part of the substrate back surface in the region other than the concave portion on the substrate back surface is removed. Features.

また、請求項に係る発明では、請求項1に記載の分極反転形成方法において、分極反転を形成した後、該基板裏面の凹部の全部又は一部に、該基板の誘電率または熱膨張率がほぼ等しい材料を充填することを特徴とする。 Further, in the invention according to claim 3 , in the method for forming domain inversion according to claim 1, after the domain inversion is formed, the dielectric constant or the coefficient of thermal expansion of the substrate is formed on all or a part of the recesses on the back surface of the substrate. Are filled with substantially equal materials.

請求項1に係る発明により、凸部が形成された領域の強誘電体基板の裏面に凹部を形成することにより、該凸部の領域における基板の厚みを薄くし、分極反転形成時の電界の強さを高めることが可能となる。
これにより、該凸部を含む領域の基板に対しても、正確に分極反転を形成することが可能となる。
According to the first aspect of the invention, the concave portion is formed on the back surface of the ferroelectric substrate in the region where the convex portion is formed, thereby reducing the thickness of the substrate in the region of the convex portion, and the electric field at the time of polarization inversion formation. Strength can be increased.
Thereby, it is possible to accurately form polarization inversion on the substrate in the region including the convex portion.

そして、基板裏面に形成する凹部の深さを、該凹部が形成された基板表面の凸部の高さより大きくすることにより、分極反転形成時に、基板表面の凸部の領域に印加される電界の強さを、他の領域と同じかそれ以上とすることが可能となり、該凸部の領域の基板を正確に分極反転することが可能となる。 Then, the depth of the concave portion formed on the back surface of the substrate is made larger than the height of the convex portion on the substrate surface where the concave portion is formed, so that the electric field applied to the region of the convex portion on the substrate surface at the time of polarization inversion formation. The strength can be the same as or higher than that of other regions, and the substrate in the region of the convex portion can be accurately inverted.

しかも、基板裏面に形成する凹部の幅を、基板表面の凸部の幅より幅広とすることにより、該凸部を含む領域の基板を確実に分極反転することが可能となる。しかも、凸部の裾と凹部の底部とが近接し、これらの近接部では、分極反転形成時の初期段階で分極反転が形成され、その後、凸部の領域に分極反転が進行することとなるため、分極反転領域をより明確に制御することが可能となる。 In addition, by making the width of the concave portion formed on the back surface of the substrate wider than the width of the convex portion on the substrate surface, it is possible to reliably reverse the polarization of the substrate in the region including the convex portion. In addition, the skirt of the convex part and the bottom part of the concave part are close to each other, and in these adjacent parts, the polarization inversion is formed in the initial stage of the polarization inversion formation, and then the polarization inversion proceeds to the region of the convex part For this reason, the domain-inverted region can be controlled more clearly.

さらに、導電性液体を利用する液体電極により分極反転を行うため、強誘電体基板の表面の凹凸構造や裏面の凹部の形状に依存せず、基板全体に基板の厚みに応じた電界を印加することが可能となる。これにより、基板の表面及び裏面の形状を精度良く設定することにより、分極反転領域を正確に制御することが可能となる。 Furthermore, since polarization inversion is performed by a liquid electrode using a conductive liquid, an electric field corresponding to the thickness of the substrate is applied to the entire substrate without depending on the uneven structure on the front surface of the ferroelectric substrate or the shape of the recess on the back surface. It becomes possible. This makes it possible to accurately control the domain-inverted region by accurately setting the shape of the front and back surfaces of the substrate.

請求項に係る発明により、分極反転を形成した後、基板裏面の凹部以外の領域の少なくとも一部を除去することにより、強誘電体基板全体に掛かる温度変化による応力分布や、誘電体基板を光学素子として利用する場合のマイクロ波等の伝搬特性変化等を補償することが可能となる。 According to the second aspect of the present invention, after forming the polarization inversion, by removing at least a part of the region other than the concave portion on the back surface of the substrate, the stress distribution due to the temperature change applied to the entire ferroelectric substrate, It is possible to compensate for changes in propagation characteristics such as microwaves when used as an optical element.

請求項に係る発明により、分極反転を形成した後、基板裏面の凹部の全部又は一部に、基板の誘電率又は熱膨張率がほぼ等しい材料を充填することにより、基板の誘電率や熱膨張率の空間分布を調整し、基板の電気的特性や熱膨張に係る応力分布などを補償することが可能となる。 According to the invention of claim 3 , after the polarization inversion is formed, all or a part of the recesses on the back surface of the substrate is filled with a material having substantially the same dielectric constant or thermal expansion coefficient. It is possible to adjust the spatial distribution of the expansion coefficient to compensate for the electrical characteristics of the substrate, the stress distribution related to thermal expansion, and the like.

以下、本発明を好適例を用いて詳細に説明する。
本発明の特徴は、強誘電体基板に分極反転を形成する際に、予め基板の表面に、リッジなどの凹凸構造が形成されている場合に、凸部の一部を含む領域の基板を、精度良く分極反転することを可能とする分極反転形成方法を提供するものである。
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail using preferred examples.
A feature of the present invention is that, when a polarization inversion is formed in a ferroelectric substrate, when a concavo-convex structure such as a ridge is previously formed on the surface of the substrate, a substrate in a region including a part of the convex portion is obtained. It is an object of the present invention to provide a polarization inversion formation method that enables polarization inversion with high accuracy.

具体的には、図8に示すように、強誘電体基板1の表面にリッジ32が形成されているものにおいて、分極反転を形成する領域に、リッジ32が含まれる場合には、該リッジが形成されている基板の裏面に、凹部60を形成し、分極反転形成時に印加される電界の強さを調整するものである。30は、リッジに形成された光導波路30を示す。   Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, when the ridge 32 is formed on the surface of the ferroelectric substrate 1, and the ridge 32 is included in the region where the polarization inversion is formed, the ridge is A recess 60 is formed on the back surface of the formed substrate to adjust the strength of the electric field applied during polarization inversion formation. Reference numeral 30 denotes an optical waveguide 30 formed in a ridge.

凹部の形状に関しては、凹部の深さHがリッジの高さhと比較して、H≧h、好ましくはH>hとなるように設定し、凹部の幅Wがリッジの幅wと比較して、W≧wとなるように設定する。
これにより、分極反転を形成する領域の基板にリッジなどの凸部が形成されている場合でも、該凸部の領域の基板の厚みを、他の領域の基板の厚みと同じ又は、それ以下とすることが可能となるため、分極反転形成時に電圧を印加した場合でも、該凸部の領域において電界の強さが他の領域と同じ又はそれ以上となるため、分極反転領域を精度良く制御することが可能となる。
Regarding the shape of the recess, the depth H of the recess is set so that H ≧ h, preferably H> h, compared with the height h of the ridge, and the width W of the recess is compared with the width w of the ridge. Thus, W ≧ w is set.
Thereby, even when a convex portion such as a ridge is formed on the substrate in the region where polarization inversion is formed, the thickness of the substrate in the region of the convex portion is equal to or less than the thickness of the substrate in the other region. Therefore, even when a voltage is applied at the time of polarization inversion formation, the electric field strength in the convex region is the same as or higher than other regions, so that the polarization inversion region is controlled with high accuracy. It becomes possible.

凹部の幅Wに関しては、リッジの幅wの1.0〜1.5倍の範囲に設定するのが、より好ましい。
W<1.0wの場合には、リッジの幅全体に分極反転領域を形成するのが難しくなる。
他方、W>1.0wの場合には、リッジの裾の基板が、リッジの領域より薄くなるため、分極反転形成時の電界が、リッジの領域より、これらの裾でより強くなるため、リッジの裾の領域に優先的に分極反転が形成される。そして、その後、リッジ領域にも分極反転が形成され、分極反転領域をより明確に制御することが可能となる。
ただし、W>1.5wの場合には、リッジの周辺領域に、リッジ領域より基板の薄い領域が形成されることとなるため、これらの周辺領域を中心に分極反転が進行し、リッジ領域だけでなく、リッジの周辺領域の外側にも分極反転が形成される。このため、分極反転領域をリッジ領域のみに精度良く制御することが困難となる。しかしながら、例えば光変調器などの構成上、リッジ周辺領域を含んでより広範囲に分極反転を形成したい場合にはこの限りではない。
The width W of the recess is more preferably set to a range of 1.0 to 1.5 times the width w of the ridge.
When W <1.0w, it becomes difficult to form a domain-inverted region over the entire width of the ridge.
On the other hand, when W> 1.0w, the substrate at the bottom of the ridge is thinner than the region of the ridge, so that the electric field at the time of domain inversion formation is stronger at these bottoms than the region of the ridge. Polarization inversion is formed preferentially in the skirt region. After that, polarization inversion is also formed in the ridge region, and the polarization inversion region can be controlled more clearly.
However, when W> 1.5w, a region thinner than the ridge region is formed in the peripheral region of the ridge, so that the polarization inversion proceeds around these peripheral regions, and only in the ridge region In addition, polarization inversion is formed outside the peripheral region of the ridge. For this reason, it becomes difficult to accurately control the domain-inverted region only in the ridge region. However, this is not the case when it is desired to form polarization inversion over a wider range including the peripheral region of the ridge due to the configuration of the optical modulator, for example.

基板裏面の凹部の形成方法としては、基板裏面の凹部を形成する領域以外を、ゴム系レジスト膜などで被覆し、砂目が#600程度の微小硬質材料を噴射して、基板表面のリッジの高さh以上に掘り込む方法がある。
また、弗酸系ケミカルエッチングや、ECR,ICP方式などのドライエッチングなどを利用することも可能であり、例えば、弗酸系ケミカルエッチングにおいては、基板裏面上の分極反転領域外をポリイミド系レジストなどで被覆し、弗酸エッチングを行う。
As a method for forming a recess on the back surface of the substrate, a region other than the region where the recess on the back surface of the substrate is to be formed is covered with a rubber resist film or the like. There is a method of digging more than the height h.
It is also possible to use hydrofluoric acid-based chemical etching or dry etching such as ECR or ICP. For example, in hydrofluoric acid-based chemical etching, a polyimide resist or the like is provided outside the domain-inverted region on the back surface of the substrate. Then, hydrofluoric acid etching is performed.

図8のように、基板裏面に凹部を形成した強誘電体基板を分極反転するには、図9に示すように、図8の基板を、電極62及び63により、シール部材61を介して狭持すると共に、該基板と各電極62,63との間に導電性液体65,66を充填し、電極62,63に高電圧64を印加する。   As shown in FIG. 8, in order to reverse the polarization of a ferroelectric substrate in which a recess is formed on the back surface of the substrate, the substrate of FIG. 8 is narrowed by means of electrodes 62 and 63 via a seal member 61 as shown in FIG. The conductive liquids 65 and 66 are filled between the substrate and the electrodes 62 and 63, and a high voltage 64 is applied to the electrodes 62 and 63.

このように、強誘電体基板を分極反転する際には、従来のような絶縁性マスクは不要であり、従来のような絶縁性マスクの形成、剥離などの複雑な工程を省略することが可能となるため、製造工程を簡略化することができる。しかも、絶縁性マスクとしてレジストを用いる場合、抵抗率を高めるためのハードベーク工程も不要となるため、マイクロドメインの発生が無い。   As described above, when the polarization of the ferroelectric substrate is reversed, the conventional insulating mask is unnecessary, and it is possible to omit the complicated steps such as forming and peeling the conventional insulating mask. Therefore, the manufacturing process can be simplified. In addition, when a resist is used as the insulating mask, a hard baking process for increasing the resistivity is not required, so that no microdomain is generated.

なお、本発明は、図9に示すように絶縁性マスクを使用しない例に限定されるものではなく、図8の強誘電体基板に対し、必要に応じて図6及び図7のように絶縁性マスクを利用することも可能である。
この場合には、基板裏面に凹部が形成され、リッジの領域の基板に掛る電界の強さを高めることが可能となっているため、絶縁性マスクとしても多種多様な材料を利用することが可能となると共に、絶縁性マスクの抵抗率を高めるための熱プロセスも不要となるなど、本発明を利用する利便性が高い。
Note that the present invention is not limited to the example in which the insulating mask is not used as shown in FIG. 9, and the ferroelectric substrate in FIG. 8 is insulated as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 as necessary. It is also possible to use a sex mask.
In this case, since a recess is formed on the back surface of the substrate, and the strength of the electric field applied to the substrate in the ridge region can be increased, a wide variety of materials can be used as an insulating mask. In addition, the thermal process for increasing the resistivity of the insulating mask is not necessary, and the convenience of using the present invention is high.

次に、分極反転を形成した後の強誘電体基板の処理について説明する。
基板裏面に凹部が形成された状態で、強誘電体基板を各種の用途に利用することも可能であるが、該凹部が局所的に形成されているため、例えば、基板の温度が変化するに伴い、基板にかかる熱応力の分布が不均一となり、強誘電体基板の機械的特性や電気光学的特性が劣化する原因ともなる。また、光変調器などの光学素子に多用されるマイクロ波により、強誘電体基板に電界を印加する場合には、マイクロ波の伝搬特性が、該凹部の存在により変化することも危惧される。
Next, processing of the ferroelectric substrate after the polarization inversion is formed will be described.
It is possible to use the ferroelectric substrate for various purposes with the recess formed on the back surface of the substrate. However, since the recess is locally formed, for example, the temperature of the substrate changes. Along with this, the distribution of thermal stress applied to the substrate becomes non-uniform, which causes the mechanical characteristics and electro-optical characteristics of the ferroelectric substrate to deteriorate. In addition, when an electric field is applied to the ferroelectric substrate by microwaves frequently used in optical elements such as an optical modulator, there is a concern that the propagation characteristics of the microwaves may change due to the presence of the recesses.

このような、基板裏面の凹部の存在による不具合を解消するため、図10(a)に示すように、基板裏面における該凹部以外の領域の少なくとも一部の基板裏面を除去し、基板裏面の凹部の影響を緩和する。
また、図10(b)に示すように、基板裏面の凹部の全部又は一部に、該基板の誘電率または熱膨張率がほぼ等しい材料を充填することにより、基板裏面の凹部の影響を緩和することも可能である。
In order to eliminate such a problem due to the presence of the concave portion on the back surface of the substrate, as shown in FIG. 10A, at least a part of the back surface of the substrate other than the concave portion is removed, and the concave portion on the back surface of the substrate is removed. To mitigate the effects of
In addition, as shown in FIG. 10B, all or part of the concave portion on the back surface of the substrate is filled with a material having substantially the same dielectric constant or thermal expansion coefficient, thereby reducing the influence of the concave portion on the back surface of the substrate. It is also possible to do.

本発明は、以上説明したものに限られるものではなく、必要に応じて当該技術分野における公知の技術を適用可能であることは、言うまでも無い。   The present invention is not limited to what has been described above, and it is needless to say that known techniques in the technical field can be applied as necessary.

以上、説明したように、本発明によれば、強誘電体基板の表面に、リッジなどの凹凸構造を有するものにおいて、該凸部の一部を含む領域の基板を、精度良く分極反転するための分極反転形成方法を提供することが可能となる。   As described above, according to the present invention, in the case where the surface of the ferroelectric substrate has a concavo-convex structure such as a ridge, the substrate in the region including a part of the convex portion can be polarized with high accuracy. It is possible to provide a method for forming the domain inversion.

従来の電極パターンを用いた分極反転方法を示す図である。It is a figure which shows the polarization inversion method using the conventional electrode pattern. 従来の液体電極法を示す図である。It is a figure which shows the conventional liquid electrode method. リッジを有する強誘電体基板を示す図であり、(a)は該基板の斜視図、(b)は該基板の断面図を示す。It is a figure which shows the ferroelectric substrate which has a ridge, (a) is a perspective view of this board | substrate, (b) shows sectional drawing of this board | substrate. 従来の分極反転後にリッジを形成する例を示す図である。It is a figure which shows the example which forms a ridge after the conventional polarization inversion. 従来のリッジ形成後に、分極反転を行う例を示す図である。It is a figure which shows the example which performs polarization inversion after the conventional ridge formation. 従来の強誘電体基板の表面に絶縁性マスクを形成し、分極反転を行う例を示す図である。It is a figure which shows the example which forms an insulating mask in the surface of the conventional ferroelectric substrate, and performs polarization inversion. 従来の強誘電体基板の裏面に絶縁性マスクを形成し、分極反転を行う例を示す図である。It is a figure which shows the example which forms an insulating mask in the back surface of the conventional ferroelectric substrate, and performs polarization inversion. 本発明の強誘電体基板の裏面に凹部を形成する状態を示す図である。It is a figure which shows the state which forms a recessed part in the back surface of the ferroelectric substrate of this invention. 本発明の基板裏面に凹部を有する強誘電体基板の分極反転の形成方法を示す図である。It is a figure which shows the formation method of the polarization inversion of the ferroelectric substrate which has a recessed part in the substrate back surface of this invention. 基板裏面に凹部を有する強誘電体基板に関し、分極反転後の処理を示す図であり、(a)は該凹部以外の領域の一部を切除する図、(b)は該凹部の全部又は一部を充填する図を示す。FIG. 4 is a diagram showing processing after polarization inversion with respect to a ferroelectric substrate having a recess on the back surface of the substrate, where (a) is a view of part of the region other than the recess, and (b) is all or one of the recesses. The figure which fills a part is shown.

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

1 強誘電体基板
2 パターン電極
3 裏面電極
4 印加電圧
5 絶縁性マスクパターン
6,7,62,63 電極
8,9,61 シール部材
30 光導波路
32 リッジ
60 凹部
65,66 導電性液体
67 分極反転領域
70 切除部
71 充填部
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ferroelectric board | substrate 2 Pattern electrode 3 Back surface electrode 4 Applied voltage 5 Insulating mask pattern 6, 7, 62, 63 Electrode 8, 9, 61 Seal member 30 Optical waveguide 32 Ridge 60 Recess 65, 66 Conductive liquid 67 Polarization inversion Area 70 Excision part 71 Filling part

Claims (3)

強誘電体基板と、該基板表面に凹凸構造を形成し、その後、該凸部の一部を含む領域の基板を分極反転する分極反転形成方法において、
分極反転する領域の内、少なくとも該凸部が形成された領域の基板裏面に凹部を形成し、該凹部の深さは、該凹部が形成された基板表面の凸部の高さより大きく、かつ該凹部の幅は、該基板裏面の凹部を形成する領域における基板表面の凸部の幅より広くなるよう設定され、
該基板に分極反転のための電界を液体電極を介して印加することを特徴とする分極反転形成方法。
In a polarization inversion forming method of forming a concavo-convex structure on a ferroelectric substrate and the substrate surface, and then inverting the substrate in a region including a part of the convex portion,
A concave portion is formed on the back surface of the substrate in at least the region where the convex portion is formed in the region where the polarization is reversed, and the depth of the concave portion is larger than the height of the convex portion on the substrate surface where the concave portion is formed, and The width of the concave portion is set to be wider than the width of the convex portion on the substrate surface in the region where the concave portion on the back surface of the substrate is formed.
A method for forming domain inversion, comprising applying an electric field for domain inversion to the substrate through a liquid electrode .
請求項1に記載の分極反転形成方法において、分極反転を形成した後、該基板裏面における該凹部以外の領域の少なくとも一部の基板裏面を除去することを特徴とする分極反転形成方法。 2. The method of forming a domain inversion according to claim 1, wherein after the domain inversion is formed, at least a part of the substrate back surface in a region other than the concave portion on the back surface of the substrate is removed. 請求項1に記載の分極反転形成方法において、分極反転を形成した後、該基板裏面の凹部の全部又は一部に、該基板の誘電率または熱膨張率がほぼ等しい材料を充填することを特徴とする分極反転形成方法。 2. The method of forming a domain inversion according to claim 1, wherein after the domain inversion is formed, all or a part of the recesses on the back surface of the substrate is filled with a material having substantially the same dielectric constant or coefficient of thermal expansion. A method for forming domain inversion.
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