Routine Production of a Triton Beam for an FN Accelerator

The use of triton beams from tritiated titanium inserts in a sputter ion source has become a significant part of the McMaster Nuclear Physics programme. Tritium beams have been run on the McMaster University FN Tandem since 1978 on the basis of one scheduled running period per year accumulating a total of over 4000 hours of running time. Beams of up to one microamp are routinely put on target. Procedures for safe maintenance and operation of such a source have been developed, and techniques for handling up to 40 TBq (about 1000 Ci) of tritium have been approved by the Atomic Energy Control Board.