Patent ID: 8608918

Claim:
A magnet structure for magnetron sputtering, comprising: inner and outer permanent magnets positioned at a reverse surface side of a target such that a magnetic moment orientation of the inner permanent magnet becomes different from a magnetic moment orientation of the outer permanent magnet for producing a first magnetic force line reaching an obverse surface of the target; a pair of intermediate permanent magnets positioned at the reverse surface side of the target and between the inner and outer magnets such that a magnetic moment orientation of one of the pair of intermediate magnets becomes different from a magnetic moment orientation of the other of the pair of intermediate magnets for producing a second magnetic force line acting to cancel a magnetic flux density component, in a width direction of the target, that is produced by the first magnetic force line; and a magnetic member positioned at the reverse surface side of the target to guide the second magnetic force line emanating from an end surface of one of the pair of intermediate permanent magnets into an end surface of the other of the pair of intermediate permanent magnets, the magnetic member being shaped convexly protruding toward the reverse surface of the target, wherein the magnetic member is configured to produce a magnetic force line reaching an intermediate point in a thickness direction of the target in association with the inner magnet or the outer magnet.