The fractional mass uncertainty of linear, foil‐based time‐of‐flight space instruments is affected by the energy, path length, and timing uncertainties. Carbon foils are typically used in time‐of‐flight instruments to generate secondary electrons, but carbon foils also add unwanted effects to the instrument response. We present a complete characterization that studies the extent to which carbon foils degrade the mass resolution by parameterizing each component of the fractional mass uncertainty. Using the parametrization, the limiting factors of the fractional mass resolution are determined for a range of incident ion energies. The parametrization can be used as a tool for instrument developers to quickly assess the mass resolution and possibly mitigate the limiting factors of the mass resolution.

中文翻译：

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了解基于箔的飞行时间质谱的质量分辨率

线性，基于箔的飞行时间空间仪器的质量不确定度分数受能量，路径长度和时间不确定度的影响。飞行时间仪器通常使用碳箔来产生二次电子，但是碳箔也会给仪器的响应增加不良影响。我们提出了一个完整的表征，它通过参数化质量分数不确定性的每个成分来研究碳箔降低质量分辨率的程度。使用参数化，可确定一定范围的入射离子能量的分数质量分辨率的限制因素。参数化可以用作仪器开发人员快速评估质量分辨率并可能减轻质量分辨率限制因素的工具。