SILICON CARBIDE EPITAXIAL SUBSTRATE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SILICON CARBIDE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE

A silicon carbide epitaxial substrate according to a present disclosure includes a silicon carbide substrate and a silicon carbide epitaxial layer disposed on the silicon carbide substrate. The silicon carbide epitaxial layer includes a boundary surface in contact with the silicon carbide substrate and a main surface opposite to the boundary surface. The main surface has an outer circumferential edge, an outer circumferential region extending within 5 mm from the outer circumferential edge, and a central region surrounded by the outer circumferential region. When an area density of double Shockley stacking faults in the outer circumferential region is defined as a first area density, and an area density of double Shockley stacking faults in the central region is defined as a second area density, the first area density is five or more times as large as the second area density, the second area density is 0.2 cm−2 or more.