Which technique is effective in enhancing the x-ray production efficiency?

Increasing the atomic number of the target is an effective technique for enhancing x-ray production efficiency because higher atomic number materials have a greater likelihood of interacting with incident high-energy electrons. This leads to improved production of x-ray photons through processes such as characteristic radiation and Bremsstrahlung radiation.

When electrons collide with a target material, the probability of x-ray generation is influenced by the atomic number of the target. Materials with a higher atomic number possess higher nuclear charges, resulting in a stronger electric field around the nucleus. This stronger field enhances the interaction with incoming electrons, increasing the overall x-ray yield. Additionally, the energies of the characteristic x-rays produced are typically higher for higher atomic number materials, improving the quality of the generated x-ray beam.

In contrast, using a thicker target may lead to increased absorption of x-rays produced before they can exit the target material, which may not necessarily improve efficiency. Lower energy electrons typically have insufficient energy to produce high-energy x-rays efficiently due to their inability to overcome the binding energy of electrons in the target atoms. Decreasing filament temperature reduces the number of electrons emitted from the filament and weakens the electron beam, thereby decreasing x-ray production efficiency. Hence, increasing the atomic number of the target is a key method to enhance