Luminescence of triboplasma: Origin, features, and behavior

Abstract

Triboplasma is a special type of electric gas discharge that occurs at a tribological interface or fractured surfaces. Dissipation of mechanical energy through triboplasma leads to a cascade of excitation-deexcitation processes some of which produce luminescence and charged particles emission. Triboluminescence related with triboplasma includes primary luminescence from excited gas molecules and ions and secondary luminescence from solid surfaces exposed to triboplasma. The dependence of spectral characteristics and behavior of triboplasma and triboluminescence on surrounding gas, surface coating and type of rubbed material are discussed.