Stabilität und Funktion des photographischen latenten Bildes

Abstract

The most important points of the present review are the following:

(1) The kinetics of development of the individual grain in a photographic layer are determined by electron transfer from solution to the latent-image nucleus. This is not affected by variations in temperature and is controlled by the size of the contact area between solution and nucleus.

(2) The stability of such a nucleus can be visualized with the help of an electron energy level diagram in which a definite level can be assigned also to the surrounding solution.

(3) With the onset of development the first step is an enlargement of the individual centre. Later on the mode of development changes in dramatic fashion: the number of centres increases, and threads are formed. It is this stage which is probably most important in the global kinetics of development of a coated layer.