Final answer:
A neutron bomb, which is a radiation-enhanced nuclear weapon, would be used for maximum radiation effect as it targets enemy forces with lethal radiation while minimizing blast damage to friendly forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
For maximum radiation effect, a neutron burst from a radiation-enhanced nuclear weapon (neutron bomb) would be used. This type of burst creates more prompt radiation with a smaller total yield compared to conventional nuclear bombs, enabling the targeting of enemy forces with lethal radiation while minimizing the blast damage to friendly forces. A 0.500-kT radiation-enhanced weapon might have a smaller blast yield than a 1.00-kT conventional nuclear bomb, but it will produce a disproportionately larger amount of prompt radiation due to the enhanced neutron emission.
Comparatively, a fusion burst, or hydrogen bomb, yields significant radiation through the fission of a plutonium or uranium trigger, followed by the fusion of light elements such as deuterium and tritium, and this reaction can be further amplified by a uranium tamper that undergoes fission due to high-energy neutrons from the fusion reaction. While all nuclear bursts create radiation effects, the efficiency in terms of radiation versus blast damage is optimized in the neutron bomb. Additionally, fission and fusion yields may involve the release of alpha particles, which contribute minimally to the radiation effect, as they have low penetrating power and are insignificant in the context of nuclear weapon detonations.