title: Characteristics of a high brightness gaseous field ion source employing tungsten-carbon doped NiAl needles.
abstract: We report on the characterization of a high brightness gaseous field ion source using an emitter made of a NiAl needle containing tiny spherical tungsten-carbon precipitates. By field evaporation of such a multiphase alloy, a surface protrusion is formed out of a precipitate, which can act as a small source size field ion emitter. The emission current-voltage characteristics of this emitter were recorded for a variety of parameters. The results obtained suggest that its application as a stable ion source is possible even on long term operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Mu'tah University, PO Box 7, Al-Karak, Jordan. mmousa@mutah.edu.jo
authors.forename: Marwan S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mousa