Bremsstrahlung is more pronounced in which type of material?

• A. Bremsstrahlung is more pronounced in high atomic number materials
• B. Bremsstrahlung is more pronounced in low atomic number materials
• C. Bremsstrahlung occurs only in vacuum
• D. Bremsstrahlung never occurs

Answer: (A)

Bremsstrahlung from fast electrons is stronger in materials with higher atomic numbers because the nuclear electric field that slows the electron is stronger for heavier nuclei. The bremsstrahlung cross-section scales roughly with Z^2, so as Z increases, more photons are produced per unit path length. This means high‑Z materials (like lead) emit much more bremsstrahlung than low‑Z materials for the same electron energy. In vacuum there’s no medium to slow the electron, so there isn't the same bremsstrahlung production, and the statement that it never occurs isn’t accurate. So, the radiation is most pronounced in high-atomic-number materials.