The present invention provides an
ion beam
processing technology for improving the precision in
processing a section of a sample using an
ion beam without making a
processing time longer than a conventionally required processing time, and for shortening the time required for separating a micro test piece without breaking the sample or the time required for making preparations for the separation. An
ion beam processing apparatus is structured so that an axis along which an
ion beam is drawn out of an
ion source and an
ion beam irradiation axis along which the
ion beam is irradiated to a sample mounted on a first sample stage will meet at an angle. Furthermore, the
ion beam processing apparatus has a tilting ability to vary an angle of
irradiation, at which the ion beam is irradiated to the sample, by rotating a second sample stage, on which a test piece extracted from the sample by performing
ion beam processing is mounted, about the tilting axis of the second sample stage. The
ion beam processing apparatus is structured so that a segment drawn by projecting the axis, along which the ion beam is drawn out of the
ion source, on a plane perpendicular to the
ion beam irradiation axis can be at least substantially parallel to a segment drawn by projecting the tilting axis of the second sample stage on the plane perpendicular to the
ion beam irradiation axis.