The invention provides a system and method for controlling a source of liquid
metal ions, the source comprises a tip a first electrode and a second electrode,
the method includes the steps of: (i) maintaining the first electrode at a first
voltage level range and maintaining the second voltage at a second voltage range,
such as to extract metal ions formed on a tip of the source, during an active mode
of operation of the source; and (ii) maintaining the first electrode at a third
voltage level range and maintaining the second voltage at a fourth voltage level
range, such as to substantially reduce an extraction of metal ions from the tip,
during an idle mode of operation of the source. The third voltage level range and,
alternatively or additionally, the fourth voltage level ranges does not include
zero voltage level. The first voltage level range differs than the third voltage
level range.
