In mammography, what is the function of the photostimulable phosphor plate (PSP)?

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Photostimulable phosphor plates store the image after X-ray exposure by trapping energy in the phosphor material, creating a latent image that is not visible yet. This stored information remains on the plate until it is read. When the plate is placed in a CR reader, a laser scans it and provokes the trapped energy to be released as light (photostimulated luminescence). The emitted light is then collected and converted into a digital signal to form the image. So the essential function of the PSP is to hold the latent image until the PSL reader stimulates it and extracts the image data. The plate does not emit light during exposure, does not amplify the digital signal itself, and does not directly convert X-rays to electricity. After readout, the plate is erased so it can be reused.