[en] Availability and usefulness of accelerators is greatly dependent on machine efficiency. Research must focus on less expensive, more compact accelerators with brighter beams. To achieve this goal for H/sup /minus// ion sources, TAC has optimized the present Brookhaven AGS source for use with their REQ program. The TAC source incorporates an extraction system with a circular aperture which provides an azimuthally symmetric beam. The complete system has been simplified including removal of the gradient bending magnet found in conventional sources of this type. This source will soon be combined with an electrostatic low energy beam transport. This will create a simpler and more compact H/sup /minus// ion source and beam transport system than is presently available. 7 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab