Final answer:
The phosphor layer of the CR imaging plate is known as the phosphor coating layer, which is crucial for capturing and creating an image when exposed to x-rays.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phosphor layer of the CR (computed radiography) imaging plate is also referred to as the phosphor coating layer. This layer is crucial for the imaging process as it traps electrons during exposure to x-rays, and later releases this energy as light when stimulated, creating an image. The phosphor coating is similar in function to how in CRT (cathode ray tube) displays, an electron beam stimulates phosphors to emit light after passing through crossed electric and magnetic fields. Additionally, in medical imaging, when the X-ray photons are converted to visible light by the phosphor, this process is an essential part of the imaging chain that eventually leads to the production of a digital image.
In xerography, a process used in photocopiers, an aluminum drum coated with selenium plays a somewhat analogous role to the phosphor coating in image capture. When exposed to light, positively charged selenium becomes conducting, allowing the charge to be neutralized, transferring the image to the drum. This stage is comparable to how the phosphor layer in imaging plates captures the image when struck by x-rays.