  Three different configurations of compact magneto-optical sources of slow Rb
atoms(LVIS, 2D(+)-MOT and 2D-MOT) were compared with each other at fixed
geometry of cooling laser beams. A precise control of the intensity balances
between the four separate transverse cooling laser beams provided a total
continuous flux of cold atoms from the LVIS and 2D(+)-MOT sources about 8x10^9
atoms/s at total laser power of 60 mW. The flux was measured directly from the
loading rate of a 3D-MOT, placed 34 cm downstream from the sources. Average
velocities of the cooled atomic beam for the LVIS and 2D(+)-MOT sources were
about 8.5 m/s and 11 m/s respectively. An essential advantage of the compact
magneto-optical sources is that their background flux of thermal atoms is two
to three orders of the magnitude smaller than the flux of slow atoms.
