[Rockhounds] Ice question ?

[Axel Emmermann]

Which is logical, Earl.
Radium sends out a high energy alpha-particle upon decaying to radon. 
Helium nuclei don't get far but they can reap havoc in crystals I guess. The
decay of tritium is relatively gentle in comparison; 3H --> 3He + ß- +
anti-neutrino.
One neutron splits up in a proton (making He out of H) a low energy electron
and an anti-neutrino.
Much less damaging ;-)))

So the 3H sight will last longer than the radium watch. Me thinks ;-)))


Chjeers

Axel.

> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
[mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com]
> Namens Earl R. Verbeek
> Verzonden: maandag 19 januari 2009 20:39
> Aan: rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com
> Onderwerp: RE: [Rockhounds] Ice question ?
> 
> <axel.emmermann at pandora.be> wrote:
> > I don't think it's the tritium that glows but rather a radio-luminescent
> > substance that responds to the decay of the tritium.
> > If so, the luminosity of the glowing part of the sight would be
> functioning
> > far beyond the half life span of 12 years.
> > Far beyond the intended use of a gun sight too ...
> 
> Yes, unless the crystal structure of the phosphor gets destroyed by the
> same radiation that causes it to luminesce.  My radium watch no longer
> shows any response at all because the phosphor is now metamict.  I wonder
> what phosphor they use in gunsights...
> 
>              Cheers-    Earl
> --
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