PURPOSE: To obtain clean surfaces free from deposit by covering the surface of a cathode and/or an anode, exposed in a discharge space, with an electrode protective member of the same material as substrates.
CONSTITUTION: The cathode protective member 2 for a cathode 1, the anode protective member 4 for an anode and a cylindrical deposition preventive member 6 use the same material as a target member or a substrate 7 to be subjected to ion etching. All parts of the members need not be composed of the same material; only the surface of the members need be composed of the same material as a target member or a substrate 7 to be subjected to ion etching. This prevents substances sputtered from the surface of a target member or etched substrate from depositing on the electrodes or the inside wall of the vacuum vessel during an ion etching process.
SAMEJIMA KENJI
TSUJI KAZUTAKA
HIRAI TADAAKI