Determination of tritium using a small Van de Graaff accelerator

Determination of $\text{T}\text{D}$ ratios in heavy water samples were carried out using a small Van de Graaff accelerator. The accelerator mass spectrometry system used is described. For comparison, the $\text{T}\text{D}$ ratios were also determined with beta-ray counting methods. Our result demonstrates that tritium at a concentration of 1 part in 10¹⁴ of deuterium was determined with a small Van de Graaff accelerator, and the potential sensitivity would be 2–3 orders of magnitude higher. A simple and cheap 1–2 MeV small accelerator with a suitable ion source and high intensity ion beam may be a powerful tool for determination of tritium.