Abstract: A tubular magnet assembly mountable inside a cylindrical target to which the magnet assembly can relatively rotate or translate is disclosed. The magnet assembly discriminates itself from the state-of-the-art in that it comprises both a ‘near’ magnetic field for confinement of charge in the vicinity of the target in combination with a ‘far’ magnetic field reaching the substrate for guidance of charge towards the substrate. Such a magnet assembly also has the advantage that it is angularly directional and can be mounted centrally in an ion plating deposition unit.

Abstract: A method for improving the sputter deposition process is provided. The method comprises the following steps: a) providing a vacuum; b) providing an electrode (10, 34, 34?, 44, 44?) in the provided vacuum ; c) providing a substrate in said vacuum, said substrate having no contact with said electrodes (10, 34, 34?, 44, 44?) providing a device (22, 22?, 24, 24?, 26, 26?, 28, 28?, 30, 36, 36?, 48, 48?) in the vacuum. The device is in relative motion to the electrode and is in contact with the electrode over a contact zone. The device removes solid material from the electrode or applies solid material to the electrode. The method is carried out by means of a simple mechanism. There is no need for complicated electronics or sophisticated control algorithms. The method is carried out in vacuum, i.e. there is no need to break the vacuum, so that the machine downtime is reduced.