[doorgunner69]

He thought that Tritium, a booster material, was an atomic trigger.

Can be either. Definitely can be an initiator (which is what you mean by trigger) when generating a D-T fusion to whip up a burst of neutrons. No one uses polonium/beryllium these days, other than maybe someone whipping up a crude gun type device.

[Southack]

"Can be either. Definitely can be an initiator (which is what you mean by trigger) when generating a D-T fusion to whip up a burst of neutrons."

Tritium has a half-life of 12.3 years and emits a very weak beta particle. That's not suitable for an atomic initiator at all.

D-T Fusion is the stuff of criticality and chain reactions...not super-criticality...certainly not with 1st generation weapons...certainly not with artillery shells or suitcase nukes (the topic under discussion).

Small nukes need lots of neutrons emitted from the initiator.