Final answer:
The phosphor layer of the imaging plate is responsible for storing the latent image, analogous to how selenium on an aluminum drum stores a charge image in the xerography process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The component of the imaging plate that is responsible for storing the latent image is the phosphor layer. In xerography, a similar process occurs where a selenium-coated aluminum drum stores the charge image when exposed to light with light areas becoming conductive and neutralizing the positive charge, while darker areas retain the charge.
Similarly, in the imaging plate used in radiography, the phosphor layer captures the image data by storing energy when exposed to X-rays. The energy is retained in the darker areas that correspond to less exposure and released from the lighter areas when the imaging plate is scanned thereby creating a digital image.