Scotch tape 'can take X-rays'

[CoombellKid]

Not really Astronomy Science, but since it is to do with "light" I thought
I might post it.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/technology/scotch-tape-can-take-xrays/2008/10/22/1224351343180.html

feel free to move it, if you think it's in the wrong spot.

regards,CS

[jjjnettie]

Well that's given us something to experiment with on those stormy summer evenings.
Thanks for that Rob.

[bojan]

It sounds quite plausible.. I only hope this announcement does not belong into the same category of news as famous Pons-Fleischmann experiment (Cold fusion).
It is very hard to confirm (by us amateurs), as they say the peeled tape was placed in vacuum... But possible.....

Also, if it proves to be true, you can say good-bye to sticky tape (OHS issues etc..)

More of this here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081022.wscotchtape1022/BNStory/Science/home

[bojan]

now that I read couple of articles on the subject..
The way that russion found evidence of x-tays from peeling off the sticky take from glass was he probably found traces of x-ray exposure on glass photo plates (still used widely 50 years ago) after peeling off selotape from the back of the plate.. which means the x-rays are emitted in the presence of air as well.. only much less efficient.
OHS issue.. :-)

[Terry B]

I wondered why anyone would be looking for X-rays from sticky tape. Sounds like a perfect candidate for an Ignobel prize.

[bojan]

This is just my own theory.. I think it was accidental.. he was probably wandering why his glass plates were damaged by very localized exposure..
On the other hand, it may have been just the ordinary light, because sticky tape emits light in a form of tiny sparks when peeled off from surfaces... This can be verified very easily....

[avandonk]

If you peel sticky tape off light proof paper covering your plate in the dark and you then find dark areas when the plate is developed that do not look like ordinary static induced dark dendritic faults. You must come to the conclusion that whatever did it went through the light proof paper.

All that is needed to produce xrays is high energy electrons exciting the K shells of any atom they hit. When this K shell electron then drops back to its normal level it emits an xray of characteristic wavelength depending on the type of atom. Triboelectric static discharges in a vacuum allows the electrons to get to far higher energies before they interact with an atom than in air. Lightning bolts emit a surprising amount of xrays although if the xrays intensity scares you don't worry, if you are that close the bolt has already fried you!

I used to do a lot of dark room work in the late sixties at Kodak Research Labs. When you have been well dark adapted say four hours peeling tape of anything emits a lot of light. Even crushing peppermints shows the same phenomenon. Static discharges were a real issue with medical xray film as they could be mistaken for a tumour etc.

Bert