X-ray and electron emission from peeling adhesive tape

In the past years, x-ray emission from adhesive tape peeled in vacuum has been reported and investigated. The generation of x rays is driven by fast electrons generated by the tape, similar to triboluminescence. However, most studies focused on electron–solid interactions near the detachment point of the tape. By introducing a defined target material into the setup, we show that produced electrons can escape the direct environment of their generation and propagate for distances in the order of centimeters. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of electron energies is studied using characteristic x rays from the metal target as a probe, revealing a non-homogeneous spatial distribution of the electron energies. We use simulations to reproduce this energy dispersion based on the electrostatic field of the tape. The field influences especially lower energy electron trajectories, altering the point of interaction with surrounding solids. This energy selectivity opens up the possibility to control the x-ray energy of this source.

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Publication Details

Journal
Applied Physics Letters
Published
2026-05-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0317330
Primary Topic
X-ray Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Analysis
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

X-ray and electron emission from peeling adhesive tape

S. Froehlich, C Fischer, J. W. Vahlbruch, H. Merdji et al.
Applied Physics Letters
X-ray Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Analysis
article

X-ray and electron emission from peeling adhesive tape

S. Froehlich, C Fischer, J. W. Vahlbruch, H. Merdji, P. Mosel, D. Theidel, M. Kovacev, P. Oberta, B. Mathew, J. L. Mapa, L. Petersen, U. Morgner, K.-A. Weber
article en

Abstract

In the past years, x-ray emission from adhesive tape peeled in vacuum has been reported and investigated. The generation of x rays is driven by fast electrons generated by the tape, similar to triboluminescence. However, most studies focused on electron–solid interactions near the detachment point of the tape. By introducing a defined target material into the setup, we show that produced electrons can escape the direct environment of their generation and propagate for distances in the order of centimeters. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of electron energies is studied using characteristic x rays from the metal target as a probe, revealing a non-homogeneous spatial distribution of the electron energies. We use simulations to reproduce this energy dispersion based on the electrostatic field of the tape. The field influences especially lower energy electron trajectories, altering the point of interaction with surrounding solids. This energy selectivity opens up the possibility to control the x-ray energy of this source.

Applied Physics LettersVol. 128(19)
Leibniz University Hannover (DE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), École Polytechnique (FR), École Nationale Supérieure de Techniques Avancées (FR), Rigaku Innovative Technologies Europe (Czechia) (CZ), Institute of Physics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SK)
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, HORIZON EUROPE European Innovation Council
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 6%
X-ray Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Analysis
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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