Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 February 2011
Deep-UV, laser-light-assisted, wet etching of compound semiconductors is reported. As ccmpared to results with visible light, the etching rates per unit power density in the ultraviolet are considerably faster; a factor of >30 is seen under typical conditions. A correlation between the UV absorption in different etching solutions and the light-enhanced etching rates is examined. Gratings with 100-nm resolution have been produced and high-aspect-ratio via-holes have been etched.