Epitaxial Growth of Magnetic Memory Film on Implanted Substrate

Related subject matter is contained in the following U.S. Patent Applications which have been filed simultaneously herewith and assigned to the Assignee of the present Application: Application Ser. No. 121,854, Feb. 14, 1980, entitled "Magnetic Domain Random Access Memory" and, Application Ser. No. 122,325, Feb. 19, 1980, entitled "Epitaxial Growth of Magnetic Memory Film in Substrate Recesses."

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a method for fabricating a magnetic memory film and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a method for fabricating a magnetic memory film wherein one surface of a crystalline substrate is selectively damaged to restrict monocrystalline growth to the non-damaged areas.

2. Prior Art Statement

Magnetic films have found use in magneto-optic memory systems. (See, "Magneto-Optic Memory Materials" in Optica Acta, 1977, Vol. 24, Pp. 482-494). Such films have also found use in display applications. (See, "Fast Switchable Magneto-Optic Memory-Display Components" by Hill and Schmidt, Philips Journal of Research, 1978, Vol. 33, Pp. 211-225; and "Thin-Film Iron-Garnet Display Components" by Hill and Schmidt in the Digest of Technical Papers presented at the 1979 SID International Symposium, First Edition, Pp. 80-81).

In the method of the present invention, one surface of a cyrstalline substrate is selectively damaged so that an epitaxial layer of magnetizable material grown on the surface will be polycrystalline over the damaged areas and monocrystalline elsewhere. The polycrystalline portions may then be selectively removed to leave the monocrystaline portions.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective of several bodies of magnetic memory film fabricated on a substrate in accordance with the preferred form of the present invention.

FIGS. 2a through 2g illustrate the processing sequence of the preferred form of the present invention.

Shown in FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of several cells 10 of magnetic memory film fabricated on a main surface 12 of a crystalline substrate 14 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated form, a suitable filler material 16 has been deposited upon the surface 12 of the substrate 14 generally between the cells 10 to form a substantially planar surface 18 coplanar with the upper surfaces of the cells 10.

In the preferred method of the present invention, an ion mask of photoresist is deposited on the surface 12 of a suitable crystalline substrate 14, such as gadolinium gallium garnet (Gd.sub.3 Ga.sub.5 O.sub.12), and patterned to leave isolated cells 20 of photoresist as shown in FIG. 2a. The surface 12 of the substrate 14 is then selectively damaged by ion implantation, at a typical implantation energy of 100 KeV and dosage of 8.times.1014 Ne/cm.sup.2, as shown in FIG. 2b. Following removal of the photoresist cells 20 as in FIG. 2c, an epitaxial layer 22 of magnetizable material, such as the magnetic garnet (YSmLuCa).sub.3 (GeFe).sub.5 O.sub.12, is grown on the surface 12 to a desired thickness, typically 1 to 5 um, using conventional liquid phase epitaxial (LPE) techniques. As shown in FIG. 2d, the resultant epitaxial layer 22 will be polycrystalline in form over the damaged portions of the substrate 14 and monocrystalline elsewhere. Upon exposure to an etchant having a preferential poly etch rate, such as phosphoric acid at 174.degree. C., for a brief period, typically 30 to 60 seconds, the polycrystalline portions will have been substantially removed from the surface 12, as shown in FIG. 2e. The remaining monocrystalline portions form the cells 10 shown in FIG. 1.

Although the structure shown in FIG. 2e may be suitable for some applications, it is often desirable in such applications as those described in the references cited above and in the copending U.S. Patent Application (TI-7880) to fill in the regions between the cells 10 to facilitate further processing steps. One preferred method for achieving the latter result is to deposit a layer 24 of a suitable filler material, such as SIO.sub.2 or an organic resin, over the cells 10 and surface 12 of the substrate 14 as shown in FIG. 2f. The excess portions of the deposited material can then be easily removed by polishing to expose the upper surfaces of the cells 10, as shown in FIG. 2g.

Although the preferred method of the present invention has been described herein with reference to typical materials and processing parameters, such details have been given by way of example only. Thus, various changes may be made in the processing steps, materials and parameters of the preferred method as disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.