A compact atomic‐beam type of polarized ion source, under construction at Kyushu University, is described. Newly developed permanent sextupole magnets are used and their operational characteristics are measured precisely and analyzed. In order to optimize the strong magnetic field electron impact ionizer performances, a computer code has been developed which simulates the trajectories in the ionizing volume of the electrons and the positive ions produced. A method of optimizing the radio‐frequency unit is proposed. This polarized ion source will be used for a variety of research, especially for the polarized fuel fusion reaction study.