Which factor increases the Detective Quantum Efficiency (DQE)?

Detective Quantum Efficiency (DQE) is a measure of how efficiently a digital radiography system converts the x-ray input signal into a useful output image. An important factor influencing DQE is the quality of the x-ray photon interaction with the detector material, which can be affected by the kilovolt peak (kVp) setting.

When the kVp is decreased, the energy of the x-ray photons emitted is lower. This can lead to an increased interaction probability with the detector material, thereby improving the DQE. A lower kVp often results in a higher contrast in images, enhancing the system's ability to detect low levels of radiation while still providing adequate detail. Consequently, the system can yield better quality images with less radiation dose, which is a critical aspect of optimizing radiographic techniques.

Therefore, lowering the kVp increases the efficiency with which the radiographic system can detect and utilize the x-ray photons, thus improving the DQE.