Patent attributes
Provided is an optical device in which an Si cap layer is provided on a Ge layer, and which is capable of effectively reducing dark current, while having a good effect on prevention of production line contamination by Ge. One embodiment of the optical device according to the present invention is provided with: a semiconductor layer which contains Ge and has a (001) surface and a facet surface between the (001) surface and a (110) surface; and a cap layer which is formed from Si, and which is formed on the (001) surface and the facet surface of the semiconductor layer. The ratio of the film thickness of the cap layer on the facet surface to the film thickness of the cap layer on the (001) surface is 0.4 or more; and the film thickness of the cap layer on the (001) surface is from 9 nm to 30 nm (inclusive).