A septum electromagnet deflects and splits a particle beam. A preferred embodiment of the septum electromagnet comprises a septum conductor that divides the septum electromagnet to define first and second beam deflecting magnetic pole spaces. First and second magnetic fields are generated in, respectively, the first and second beam deflecting magnetic pole spaces by electric currents flowing through the coils associated with the septum conductor. The direction of the first magnetic field is opposite to the direction of the second magnetic field, such that a particle beam passing through the first beam deflecting magnetic pole space is angularly deflected by an amount and a particle beam passing through the second beam deflecting magnetic pole space is angularly deflected by an opposite amount.