Claims
- 1. An ion source comprising a first electrode means having a holding part for holding a substance to-be-ionized maintained in a molten state, and a pointed end part formed in a shape of a needle; a control electrode means disposed in a vicinity of the pointed end part for applying an electric field to the molten substance held by said holding part and for controlling a quantity of the molten substance supplied to the pointed end part by applying an electric field to a liquid surface of the molten substance held by said holding part; and an extractor means disposed opposite to the pointed end part for applying an electric field to the pointed end part wetted with the molten substance and for extracting ions of said molten substance from the pointed end part, said control electrode means shielding the liquid surface of the molten substance on said first electrode means from the electric field generated by said extractor means so that the effect of the field generated by the extractor means on the profile of the liquid surface is reduced thereby ensuring a uniform flow of the molten substance.
- 2. An ion source as defined in claim 1, wherein said first electrode means includes a hair-pin shaped filament, and a tip terminating in a pointed end part and connected to a central part of said filament.
- 3. An ion source as defined in claim 2, wherein an angle at which a tangent to a side line of said filament intersects with a center line of said tip lies in a range of 35.degree.-55.degree., and wherein a distance from the intersection point to said pointed end of said tip does not exceed 1 mm.
- 4. An ion source comprising a first electrode means formed as a pipe means including a conically shaped end part for holding a substance to-be-ionized in a molten state, and a needle arranged so as to extend through a center of the pipe means such that a pointed end of the needle protrudes beyond the end part of the pipe means; a control electrode means disposed in a vicinity of the end part of the pipe means for applying an electric field to the substance held by the pipe means and for controlling a quantity of the substance supplied to the pointed end of the needle; and an extractor means disposed opposite to the needle for applying an electric field to the pointed end of the needle wetted with the substance and for extracting ions of the substance from the pointed end of the needle; said control electrode means shielding the liquid surface of the molten substance on said first electrode means from the electrode field generated by said extractor means so that the effect of the electric field on the profile of the liquid surface is reduced thereby ensuring a uniform flow of the molten substance.
- 5. An ion source as defined in claim 4, wherein an angle at which a tangent to a side line of said pointed end part intersects with a center line of said needle lies in a range of 35.degree.-55.degree., and wherein a distance from the intersection point to said pointed end of said needle does not exceed 1 mm.
- 6. An ion source as defined in claim 1, wherein said first electrode means further includes heating means for maintaining said molten substance in said molten state.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
55-13724 |
Feb 1980 |
JPX |
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Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 533,745 filed September 19, 1983, which was a continuation of Ser. No. 236,339 filed 2/4/81, both abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
3814975 |
Wolfe et al. |
Jun 1974 |
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4088919 |
Clampitt et al. |
May 1978 |
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Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
533745 |
Sep 1983 |
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Parent |
231334 |
Feb 1981 |
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