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From: bane@umcp-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Re: Fusion Wastes
Message-ID: <3004@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 6-Oct-83 08:55:58 EDT
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.3004
Posted: Thu Oct  6 08:55:58 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 9-Oct-83 13:55:45 EDT
References: <12309@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Computer Science Dept.
Lines: 9

Contrary to a recent posting, tritium is NOT an alpha emitter, and cannot be.
Alpha particles are helium-4 nuclei (2 protons, 2 neutrons).  Tritium is
actually a mild beta (electron) emitter, converting itself into helium-3.
I own a TI glow-in-the-dark watch, and I remember looking this up once to
check the half-life of the tritium.  The 12 year half life is actually a
disadvantage here; my watch is 6 years old and noticeably dimmer now.
-- 
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