Gaseous Tritium Light Source

In my post about cufflinks I mentioned tritium lights as an option. This is what I was talking about.

Again, tritium:

• radioactive isotope of hydrogen, with 2 neutrons and 1 proton (normal hydrogen only has 1 proton)
• decays by beta-decay (produces electrons)
• trace occurring in nature
• made in nuclear reactors
• used in hydrogen bombs and certain designs of fusion reactors

This product is a sealed vial of tritium with the insides painted with phosphors. As the tritium decays, it excites the phosphors, which produce light. The colour depends on the phosphors. I got green because it's the most obvious (the human eye is most sensitive to green).

• no batteries
• no recharging, unlike conventional glow-in-the-dark
• nothing to replace
• waterproof
• lasts 10 years
• temperature independent? Nuclear reactions are temperature independent.

Also used in watches (Luminox) and gun sights. Replaces the much much more dangerous radium.

Why this is cool:

• tritium is rare
• and used in man-made nuclear fusion!
• safe way to carry a radioactive material with you
• doesn't need batteries
• durable and lasts extremely long
• it glows
• explain isotopes and nuclear reactions to people