To increase x-ray beam intensity without altering overall energy, a technologist should do what?

Increasing milliamperage (mA) enhances x-ray beam intensity without changing the overall energy of the beam. Milliamperage refers to the quantity of x-rays produced during a specific exposure time; therefore, increasing mA increases the number of photons generated. This results in a denser image, which enhances the overall intensity of the x-ray beam.

When mA is increased, the same kilovoltage peak (kVp) setting can still maintain the energy characteristics of the x-radiation, allowing for more exposure without altering the average energy of the x-rays produced. This method allows the technologist to improve image quality by reducing noise and increasing contrast while keeping the radiation quality stable.

Other options, such as increasing source-to-image distance or kilovoltage peak, are not aimed specifically at increasing intensity independently of energy. Increasing filtration also serves to remove lower-energy photons from the beam, which can actually decrease intensity rather than boosting it. Thus, increasing mA is the preferred method to achieve greater x-ray beam intensity without changing overall energy.