The correct set of species responsible for the photochemical smog is:

Photochemical smog, sometimes called Los Angeles type smog, is produced when primary air pollutants undergo photochemical (sun-light driven) reactions. The well-established sequence begins with nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide released mainly from automobile exhausts.

We have the first primary pollutant as $$\text{NO}$$. In the atmosphere this reacts with molecular oxygen to give the second primary pollutant $$\text{NO}_2$$:

$$\text{2NO} + \text{O}_2 \;\longrightarrow\; 2\text{NO}_2$$

Now, under strong sunlight, $$\text{NO}_2$$ absorbs photons and dissociates:

$$\text{NO}_2 \;\xrightarrow{h\nu}\; \text{NO} + \text{O}$$

The atomic oxygen produced above is extremely reactive. It combines with atmospheric oxygen $$\text{O}_2$$ (which is always present) to form ozone:

$$\text{O} + \text{O}_2 \;\longrightarrow\; \text{O}_3$$

So, alongside $$\text{NO}$$ and $$\text{NO}_2$$, the third important species that actually accumulates in the polluted air mass is $$\text{O}_3$$.

In addition to the nitrogen oxides, unburnt or partially burnt fuels introduce a mixture of volatile organic compounds, commonly referred to as hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons participate in chain reactions with the nitrogen oxides and ozone to form secondary pollutants such as peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), aldehydes, etc. Thus hydrocarbons are the fourth essential component in the photochemical smog system.

Summarising, the characteristic set of species that initiate and sustain photochemical smog is

$$\text{NO}, \quad \text{NO}_2, \quad \text{O}_3, \quad \text{(hydrocarbons)}.$$

Next, we simply compare this required quartet with the alternatives given:

A. $$\text{CO}_2, \text{NO}_2, \text{SO}_2$$ and hydrocarbons - contains neither $$\text{NO}$$ nor $$\text{O}_3$$, so it is incorrect.

B. $$\text{NO}_2, \text{O}_2, \text{O}_3$$ and hydrocarbons - misses $$\text{NO}$$ and counts the ever-present $$\text{O}_2$$ as a pollutant, so it is not the right choice.

C. $$\text{NO}_2, \text{NO}_2$$ and hydrocarbons - clearly lacks both $$\text{NO}$$ and $$\text{O}_3$$, therefore wrong.

D. $$\text{NO}, \text{NO}_2, \text{O}_3$$ and hydrocarbons - this option contains all four mandatory species, exactly matching the accepted mechanism.

Hence, the correct answer is Option D.