Abstract: The fundamental model of the latent image formation by means of Monte Carlo type of computer simulation technique was used for examining the influences of oxygen and moisture on the latent image formation. The simulated results showed that oxygen and moisture could be considered as two mutually independent factors and played different roles in the process of latent image formation. The oxygen molecule adsorbed on the surface of grains can capture a photoelectron to form a superoxide radical, which may be restored by a bromine atom, instead of a water molecule. Therefore, the existence of oxygen will cause a loss of photoelectrons. Differing from oxygen, the water molecules inhibit the formation and the growth of a concentration speck because of their polarization to silver clusters, thus causing various silver clusters to have a decrease in competence for photoelectrons.

Key words: computer simulation, latent image, kinetics