An apparatus (1) for erasing a storage phosphor layer (2) includes a drive
(5) for producing a relative movement between the storage phosphor layer
(2) and the radiation source (8), the storage phosphor layer (2) lying or
being moved in a holding plane (7), and a reflector (11) for reflecting
radiation. The reflector (11) is arranged and designed to reflect erasing
radiation reflected by the storage phosphor layer (2) in the direction of
the storage phosphor layer (2). A width (14) of the reflector (11) in the
direction (6) of the relative movement is at least ten times as great as
a smallest distance (15) between the reflector (11) and the holding plane
(7).