Photostimulated luminescence

The device to read such a plate is known as a phosphorimager (occasionally spelled phosphoimager, perhaps reflecting its common application in molecular biology for detecting radiolabeled phosphorylated proteins and nucleic acids).

After the initial exposure by short-wavelength (typically, X-ray) electromagnetic radiation, excited electrons in the phosphor material remain 'trapped' in 'colour centres' ("F-centers") in the crystal lattice until stimulated by the second illumination.

For example, Fuji's photostimulable phosphor is deposited on a flexible polyester film support with grain size about 5 micrometers, and is described as "barium fluorobromide containing a trace amount of bivalent europium as a luminescence center".

A lower-frequency light source that is insufficient in energy to create more Eu3+ ions can return the trapped electrons to the conduction band.

Mechanical damage such as scratches and abrasions are common, as well as radiation fatigue or imprinting due to high energy applications.

An image can be erased by simply exposing the plate to a room-level fluorescent light - but more efficient, complete erasure is required to avoid signal carry-over and artifacts.

This additional extra step, from exposing the detector to a viewable digital image, is the main difference between the two techniques.

Examples include self-emission imaging of inertial confinement fusion implosions,[9] backlit radiographic microscopy,[9] and spatially-resolved emission spectroscopy of quantum dots.