The variation with temperature of the ion mass spectra of a liquid metal al
loy ion source (LMAIS) (Au77Ge14Si9) is reported. Analysis of our results s
uggests the co-existence of two different ion creation mechanisms for the d
oubly charged atomic ions. Whereas some doubly charged ions are post-ionise
d from the singly charged state, others are directly field-evaporated, The
temperature dependence of the abundance of the ionic clusters emitted by th
e source has also been investigated. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig
hts reserved.