A High Voltage Engineering K-4000 Van de Graaff ion accelerator has been acquired by Washington State University. This accelerator will be used to create a positron source through the C-12(d, n)N-13 reaction. The accelerator is capable of accelerating protons or deuterons up to 4 MeV with a maximum beam current between 200 and 300 muA. During normal operation, a 3 MeV deuteron beam will impinge on a diamond or graphite target producing similar to3.3 Ci of N-13 from which a similar to1 x 10(7) s(-1) monoenergetic positron beam will be created. In addition to creating positrons, the source will also emit a large number on neutrons (similar to1.2 x 10(11) s(-1)), producing a serious radiation hazard. The development of this N-13 based positron beam is discussed including the expected positron yield and radiation shielding requirements. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.