Application of the acceptance diagram technique to atomic beam systems

A new method based on the calculation of acceptance diagrams has been developed for the design of the sextupole magnet system of an atomic beam apparatus. Compared to the ray-tracing technique, the present method is simpler and able to give more global and systematic information about the transmission characteristics of the system. The example of a two-magnet system is considered and predictions for the atomic beam density in a long ionizer such as that used in a polarized hydrogen ion source are presented. Test measurements on a low temperature atomic beam stage show that calculated and measured values are in good agreement.