ANGULAR AND ENERGY-DISTRIBUTIONS OF IONS EMITTED FROM A GALN LIQUID ALLOY ION-SOURCE

Angular distributions of Ga+, In+, and Cu+ ions from a GaIn liquid all oy ion source are very different. With the source at room temperature, In+ ions appear to be emitted into a narrow angular ring at the edge of the Ga+ emission cone, and Cu+ ions are emitted into the central pa rt of that cone. Energy distributions of Ga+ and In+ ions vary strongl y as the source temperature increases, and at high temperatures depend on the angle from the axis of the emission cone. A mechanism of space separation of ions due to the difference of their evaporation fields is proposed. The possible influence of charged droplet emission on the angular and energy distributions of ions is discussed. A mechanism fo r the optical radiation from a liquid metal ion source, due to charge- exchange processes, is proposed.