Abstract: A polishing method can process and flatten, in a practical processing time and with high surface accuracy, a surface of a substrate of a Ga element-containing compound semiconductor. The polishing method includes: bringing a Ga element-containing compound semiconductor substrate (16) into contact with a polishing tool (10) in the presence of a processing solution (14) comprising a neutral pH buffer solution containing Ga ions; irradiating a surface of the substrate with light or applying a bias potential to the substrate, or applying a bias potential to the substrate while irradiating the surface of the substrate with light, thereby forming Ga oxide (16a) on the surface of the substrate; and simultaneously moving the substrate and the polishing tool relative to each other to polish and remove the Ga oxide formed on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A polishing method and a polishing apparatus finish a surface of a substrate of a compound semiconductor containing an element such as Ga or the like to a desired level of flatness, so that the surface can be flattened with high surface accuracy within a practical processing time. In the presence of water, such as weak acid water, water with air dissolved therein, or electrolytic ion water, the surface of the substrate made of a compound semiconductor containing either one of Ga, Al, and In and a surface of a polishing pad having an electrically conductive member in an area of the surface which is held in contact with the substrate) are relatively moved while being held in contact with each other, thereby polishing the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A polishing method and a polishing apparatus finish a surface of a substrate of a compound semiconductor containing an element such as Ga or the like to a desired level of flatness, so that the surface can be flattened with high surface accuracy within a practical processing time. In the presence of water, such as weak acid water, water with air dissolved therein, or electrolytic ion water, the surface of the substrate made of a compound semiconductor containing either one of Ga, Al, and In and a surface of a polishing pad having an electrically conductive member in an area of the surface which is held in contact with the substrate) are relatively moved while being held in contact with each other, thereby polishing the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A polishing method and a polishing apparatus particularly suitable for finishing a surface of a substrate of a compound semiconductor containing an element such as Ga or the like to a desired level of flatness, so that a surface of a substrate of a compound semiconductor containing an element of Ga can be flattened with high surface accuracy within a practical processing time. In the presence of water (232) such as weak acid water, water with air dissolved therein, or electrolytic ion water, a surface of a substrate (142) made of a compound semiconductor containing either one of Ga, Al, and In and the surface of a polishing pad (242) having an electrically conductive member (264) in an area of the surface which is held in contact with the substrate (142) are relatively moved while being held in contact with each other, thereby polishing the surface of the substrate (142).

Abstract: A polishing method can process and flatten, in a practical processing time and with high surface accuracy, a surface of a substrate of a Ga element-containing compound semiconductor. The polishing method includes: bringing a Ga element-containing compound semiconductor substrate (16) into contact with a polishing tool (10) in the presence of a processing solution (14) comprising a neutral pH buffer solution containing Ga ions; irradiating a surface of the substrate with light or applying a bias potential to the substrate, or applying a bias potential to the substrate while irradiating the surface of the substrate with light, thereby forming Ga oxide (16a) on the surface of the substrate; and simultaneously moving the substrate and the polishing tool relative to each other to polish and remove the Ga oxide formed on the surface of the substrate.