A method for fabricating micro pipes on a semiconductor wafer or other
substrate. According to the method of the invention, a base layer is
initially deposited on the substrate and then etched to form a trench
which exposes the surface of the substrate. Next, a PR (photoresist)
layer of selected thickness is deposited over the base layer and the
trench. Finally, in a curing step, the deposited photoresist is
irradiated with ionizing radiation to cause outgassing of nitrogen gas
from the photoresist layer, between the PR layer and the substrate. This
step facilitates buckling of the PR layer into an arcuate bubble which
defines the semispherical micro pipe structure.