In this article, we describe the performance characteristics for a selected number of target ion sources that will be employed for initial use at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility as well as prototype ion sources that show promise for future use for radioactive ion beam applications. A brief review of present efforts to select target materials and to design composite target matrix/heat‐sink systems that simultaneously incorporate the short diffusion lengths, high permeabilities, and controllable temperatures required to effect fast and efficient diffusion release of the short‐lived species is also given. ©1996 American Institute of Physics.