Shape of a liquid metal ion source

A model of the liquid-metal ion-source shape consisting of a jet-like protrusion on the end of a Taylor cone shape is shown to be consistent with a field evaporation mechanism of ion formation, fluid dynamic considerations, space charge effects and recent TEM observations. The diameter of the ion emitting area is found to be only a few tens of Å. Self-consistent numerical calculations of electric potential and particle trajectories predict emission characteristics which compare favorably with experimental results.On leave from Trinity Hall, Cambridge, UK