SASW@MIT-MC@sri-unix.UUCP (10/11/83)
From: Steven A. Swernofsky <SASW @ MIT-MC>
Date: 4 Oct 1983 01:07-PDT
From: BILLW at Sri-Kl
On top of that, Tritium is an alpha emitter.
This can't be true. Tritium (H-3) contains only 3 nucleons, while alpha
particles (He-4) contain 4. Tritium could be a beta emitter, via the
reaction
(p + 2n) --> (2p + n) + beta + neutrino
H-3 He-3
A beta particle is just a high-energy free electron. Betas have more
penetrating power than alphas, but much less than gammas. Neutrinos, of
course, have the most penetrating power of all!
-- Steve