A ribbon type AuSiBe alloy field ion source, which combines the advant
ages of both hairpin type sources and reservoir type sources, has been
constructed. The current-voltage characteristics of this source have
been investigated. Hysteresis and four differentiated emission regions
ha ve been observed for them. By means of scanning electronic microsc
opy, it has been established that this complicated behaviour of the I-
V curves and the angular distribution of the extracted ions are associ
ated with the shape of the emitting surface. The mass spectrum of the
emitted ions has been determined by means of an E x B mass filter. Con
siderable emission of Au+, AuBe32+, Si2+, Be2+, AuBe3+, Be+, Si+, and
Au2+ has been observed.