Cluster ions ejected from an LiMg alloy liquid metal ion source: observation of Mg2+2 and Mg2+3

AbstractIons ejected from a liquid metal ion source of an LiMg (10 atom %) alloy have been investigated by using a magnetic mass analyzer. In addition to singly charged homonuclear Li+n (n ≤ 9) and Mg+n (n ≤ 4) and heteronuclear MgmLi+n (m, n ≤ 2) clusters, doubly charged diatomic and triatomic Mg clusters are observed. Discussion is focused on the observability and the formation mechanism of the doubly charged small Mg clusters. A postionization process is suggested for the formation of the doubly charged clusters