In the search for a deeper understanding of the factors governing the stability of liquid metal field-ion emitters, the behaviour of a liquid anode with an anomalous surface tension coefficient is studied. The main parameter in this experimental study is the emitter temperature. At the conclusion of the work an important result emerged: apart from the surface tension coefficient, space-charge effects constitute a major factor influencing emitter stability. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.