The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

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- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16385135&loc=d3e33749-111570

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- Definition

This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item includes income or expense related to stock-based compensation based on the investor's grant of stock to employees of an equity method investee.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 9

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

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-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 11

-Article 7

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- Definition

Purchases during the period (excluding transactions that are eliminated in consolidated or combined financial statements) with related party.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of fixed manufacturing costs required to be paid during the fiscal year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	var_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of fixed costs as defined in the agreement and determined at the beginning of each calendar year that the entity is required to pay.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	var_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The percentage of manufacturing capacity that the entity has the guaranteed right to purchase up to.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	var_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of dpiX Holding LLC's ownership interest in dpiX LLC.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	var_PercentageOfSubsidiaryOwnership
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Mar. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2013	Mar. 28, 2014	Mar. 29, 2013	Sep. 27, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Ownership interest in dpiX Holding LLC		40.00%		40.00%
dpiX Holding LLC's ownership interest in dpiX LLC		100.00%		100.00%
Income (Loss) on equity investment in affiliate		$ 800,000	$ (700,000)	$ (600,000)	$ (564,000)
Carrying value of the equity investment in dpiX Holding		47,200,000		47,200,000		49,700,000
Purchases of glass transistor arrays from dpiX		5,700,000	5,300,000	9,200,000	16,100,000
Percentage of manufacturing capacity	50.00%
Percentage of fixed costs	50.00%			50.00%
Fixed Cost Commitments				$ 8,600,000