Electrons

The speed with which electrons travel from the filament of the cathode to the target of
the anode depends upon the potential difference between the two electrodes (kilovoltage). This, in turn, has a very important effect on the x-rays produced at the focal
spot.
The kilovoltage has nothing to do with the number of electrons that compose the
stream flowing from cathode to anode. The umber of electrons (which determines
the quantity of x-rays produced) is controlled by the temperature of the cathode filament (milliamperage setting). The hotter the filament, the more electrodes are emitted
and available to form the electron stream (the x-ray tube current). In the x-ray tube the
number of electrons flowing per second is measured in millamperes. The intensity of
x-rays produced at a particular kilovoltage depends on that number.
Note: Setting the x-ray machine for a specific milliamperage actually means adjusting
the filament temperature to yield the current flow indicated.
To increase film density, you should increase mA, kVp and time. Also, you should
decrease the source-object distance.