Nuclear magnetic resonance of anti-parallel spin neutrons (of total spin zero for the neutron-spin pair), plus a proton of spin . Therefore, the tritium total nuclear spin value is again , just like for the simpler, abundant hydrogen isotope, H nucleus (the "proton"). The NMR absorption frequency for tritium is also similar to that of H. In many other cases of "non-radioactive" nuclei, the overall spin is also non-zero. For example, the nucleus has an overall spin value . A non-zero spin formula_2 is always associated with a non-zero magnetic dipole moment, formula_3, via the relation formula_4 where "γ" is the gyromagnetic ratio.
Tritium section for thermal neutrons is about 0.52 millibarns, whereas that of oxygen-16 () is about 0.19 millibarns and that of oxygen-17 () is about 240 millibarns. Tritium is an uncommon product of the nuclear fission of uranium-235, plutonium-239, and uranium-233, with a production of about one atom per each 10,000 fissions. The release or recovery of tritium needs to be considered in the operation of nuclear reactors, especially in the reprocessing of nuclear fuels and in the storage of spent nuclear fuel. The production of tritium is not a goal, but rather a side-effect. It is discharged to the atmosphere