Radioluminescence

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Radioluminescent 1.2 Curie 4" x .2" Tritium vials are simply tritium gas filled thin glass vials whose inner surface are coated with a phosphor. The "gaseous tritium light source" vial shown here is 1.5 years old.

Radioluminescence is the phenomenon by which luminescence is produced in a material by the bombardment of ionizing radiation such as beta particles. An example of a common radioluminescent material is the tritium-excited luminous paints used on watch dials and gun sights, another is the now-disused mixture of radium and copper-doped zinc sulfide paint used historically to paint clock dials.