Al 2 O 3 -Ta 2 O 5 thin films are known as highly corrosion-resistant materials for coatings. Here the formation process of Al 2 O 3 -Ta 2 O 5 films was analyzed by in situ ellipsometry during deposition by ion beam sputtering. Composite targets composed of Al 2 O 3 and Ta 2 O 5 plates were used for sputter deposition. During deposition, the formation process of thin films was monitored by a single-wavelength rotating analyzer ellipsometer attached to the sputtering system. The composition, the chemical binding states of constituent elements, and the depth profile of the elements of the films were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy ͑XPS͒, and auger-electron spectroscopy ͑AES͒, respectively. Ellipsometric analysis showed that the thickness of the film increased linearly with time after short induction periods. The refractive index of the films increases with increasing tantalum cationic fraction. The extinction coefficient of the films was larger than those of single Al 2 O 3 and Ta 2 O 5 films. The XPS analysis showed that the preferential deposition of the Ta 2 O 5 component occurred in the induction period and the codeposition of Ta 2 O 5 and Al 2 O 3 in the linear growth stage. The AES analysis showed that the content of constituent elements was homogeneous from the top to the bottom of the films in the linear growth stage.In ion beam sputter deposition ͑IBSD͒, 1,2 target materials are sputtered by inert gas ions, such as Ar + ions, from an ion gun, and sputtered particles are deposited on a substrate to form a film. Advantages of IBSD are that the film is scarcely irradiated by highenergy particles generated in a plasma area and is formed under relatively high vacuum. Because of these advantages, the film formed is free from irradiation damages and absorption of process gas. Consequently, IBSD is widely used for the formation of highquality metal, alloy, or oxide thin films. 3-10 However, most research has been engaged with characteristics of the films; a very few research projects have been concerned with the formation process of the films.Ellipsometry is a sensitive method for analyzing changes in the thickness and optical constant of surface films. It provides nondestructive optical measurements in a vacuum, gases, and solutions. Because of these features, ellipsometry has been used for in situ analysis of the oxidation and reduction processes of metals and alloys in aqueous solutions, 10-17 the formation process of oxide films by chemical vapor deposition, [18][19][20][21][22] and that of metal, oxide, nitride, and carbide films by physical vapor deposition. [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] Several reports are available for ellipsometric analyses of the formation process of thin films by magnetron sputtering. Aouadi et al. 23 analyzed the formation of Inconel/carbon multilayer films on a Si substrate. Lee et al. 24,25 studied the initial stage of growth of Au thin films on heat-oxidized Si substrates. Vergohl et al. 26 reported the process...