This study was tried to form the silica waveguide using high density plasma. Plasma characteristics have been investigated as a function of etch parameters using a single Langmuir probe and optical emission spectroscopy(OES). As etch parameters, $CF_4/CHF_3$ ratio, bias power, and source power were chosen as main variables. The oxide etch characteristics of inductively coupled plasma(ICP) dry etcher such as the etch rate, etch profile, and surface roughness were investigated s a function of etch parameters. On the basis of these results, the core pattern of the wave guide composed of $SiO_2-P_2O_5$ was formed. It was confirmed that the etch rate of $SiO_2-P_2O_5$ core layer was 380 nm/min and the aluminum selectivity to oxide, that is, mask layer was approximately 30:1. The SEM images showed vertical etched profiles and minimal loss of pattern width.