An apparatus for the generation of anionic and neutral particulate beams is described. The apparatus comprises a duct defined by walls having an inner surface capable of sustaining a temperature above an electron emission temperature of the surface, so as to negatively charge electrically neutral particles being passed through the duct when the surface is heated to the temperature; a heating element for heating the inner surface to the temperature; and an acceleration electrode for ion-optically controlling and manipulating the negatively charged particles into the anion beam. The apparatus may further comprise a protection electrode defining a protected region, which substantially prevent emitted electrons from escaping the protected region. Moreover, a system for analyzing substances ejected from a surface of a sample bombarded with an anion beam generated by the apparatus is described. The system further comprises a detector for detecting the substances once ejected of the surface. Further, a method of generating an anion beam is described.