A calculation method based on isotope ratios for the determination of dead time and its uncertainty in ICP-MS and application of the method to investigating some features of a continuous dynode multiplier

Abstract

A method for the determination of dead time (and its uncertainty) of the ion-counting detection system of ICP-MS instruments is presented. It is based on isotope ratio measurements, which are more precise than ion current measurements and will result in values for the dead time with a measurable uncertainty. The suggested method allows us to estimate the uncertainty associated with the dead time. Typical relative uncertainties of the dead time values were found to be in the range of 10-20%.