An SiC semiconductor device includes an SiC semiconductor layer including an SiC monocrystal that is constituted of a hexagonal crystal and having a first main surface as a device surface facing a c-plane of the SiC monocrystal and has an off angle inclined with respect to the c-plane, a second main surface at a side opposite to the first main surface, and a side surface facing an a-plane of the SiC monocrystal and has an angle less than the off angle with respect to a normal to the first main surface when the normal is 0°.

A laser processing device includes: a light source configured to output laser light; a space light modulator for modulating the laser light output from the light source in accordance with a modulation pattern and outputting the modulated laser light; a converging lens for converging the laser light output from the space light modulator to an object, and forming a converging spot on the object; a movement unit for relatively moving the converging spot with respect to the object; and a control unit for relatively moving, while setting a position of the converging spot in a Z direction intersecting with an incident surface of the laser light on the object at a first Z position, the converging spot along a line extended in an X direction along the incident surface by controlling at least the space light modulator and the movement unit.

A laser processing device includes: a light source configured to output laser light; a space light modulator for modulating the laser light output from the light source in accordance with a modulation pattern and outputting the modulated laser light; a converging lens for converging the laser light output from the space light modulator to an object, and forming a converging spot on the object; a movement unit for relatively moving the converging spot with respect to the object; and a control unit for relatively moving, while setting a position of the converging spot in a Z direction intersecting with an incident surface of the laser light on the object at a first Z position, the converging spot along a line extended in an X direction along the incident surface by controlling at least the space light modulator and the movement unit.

A method for producing a layer of solid material includes: providing a solid body having opposing first and second surfaces, the second surface being part of the layer of solid material; generating defects by means of multiphoton excitation caused by at least one laser beam penetrating into the solid body via the second surface and acting in an inner structure of the solid body to generate a detachment plane, the detachment plane including regions with different concentrations of defects; providing a polymer layer on the solid body; and generating mechanical stress in the solid body such that a crack propagates in the solid body along the detachment plane and the layer of solid material separates from the solid body along the crack.

A method for producing a layer of solid material includes: providing a solid body having opposing first and second surfaces, the second surface being part of the layer of solid material; generating defects by means of multiphoton excitation caused by at least one laser beam penetrating into the solid body via the second surface and acting in an inner structure of the solid body to generate a detachment plane, the detachment plane including regions with different concentrations of defects; providing a polymer layer on the solid body; and generating mechanical stress in the solid body such that a crack propagates in the solid body along the detachment plane and the layer of solid material separates from the solid body along the crack.

A method of manufacturing a diamond substrate includes: a step of placing a laser condensing unit 190 configured to condense laser light B so as to face an upper surface 10a of a block 10 of single crystal diamond; and a step of forming a modified layer 20, which includes a processing mark 21b of graphite and a crack 22b extending along a surface (111) around the processing mark 21b, along the surface (111) of the single crystal diamond at a predetermined depth from an upper surface of the block by radiating the laser light B on the upper surface 10a of the block 10 from the laser condensing unit 190 under predetermined conditions and condensing the laser light B inside the block 10, and moving the laser condensing unit 190 and the block 10 in a relative manner two-dimensionally.

A method of forming a cutting element for an earth-boring tool may include directing at least one energy beam at a surface of a volume of polycrystalline superabrasive material including interstitial material disposed in regions between inter-bonded grains of polycrystalline superabrasive material. The method includes ablating the interstitial material with the at least one energy beam such that at least a portion of the interstitial material is removed from a first region of the volume of polycrystalline superabrasive material without any substantial degradation of the inter-bonded grains of superabrasive material or of bonds thereof in the first region.

A method of forming a cutting element for an earth-boring tool may include directing at least one energy beam at a surface of a volume of polycrystalline superabrasive material including interstitial material disposed in regions between inter-bonded grains of polycrystalline superabrasive material. The method includes ablating the interstitial material with the at least one energy beam such that at least a portion of the interstitial material is removed from a first region of the volume of polycrystalline superabrasive material without any substantial degradation of the inter-bonded grains of superabrasive material or of bonds thereof in the first region.

An apparatus for cutting brittle material comprises an aspheric focusing lens, an aperture, and a laser-source generating a beam of pulsed laser-radiation. The aspheric lens and the aperture form the beam of pulsed laser-radiation into an elongated focus having a uniform intensity distribution along the optical axis of the aspheric focusing lens. The elongated focus extends through the full thickness of a workpiece made of a brittle material. The workpiece is cut by tracing the optical axis along a cutting line. Each pulse or burst of pulsed laser-radiation creates an extended defect through the full thickness of the workpiece.

An apparatus for cutting brittle material comprises an aspheric focusing lens, an aperture, and a laser-source generating a beam of pulsed laser-radiation. The aspheric lens and the aperture form the beam of pulsed laser-radiation into an elongated focus having a uniform intensity distribution along the optical axis of the aspheric focusing lens. The elongated focus extends through the full thickness of a workpiece made of a brittle material. The workpiece is cut by tracing the optical axis along a cutting line. Each pulse or burst of pulsed laser-radiation creates an extended defect through the full thickness of the workpiece.