sensitivity

**Sensitivity** in metrology is the **change in instrument response per unit change in the measured quantity** — mathematically the slope of the calibration curve ($partial Signal / partial Concentration$), sensitivity determines how much the instrument's output changes for a given change in the measurand. **Sensitivity Details** - **Calibration Slope**: For linear calibration: $Sensitivity = m$ where $Signal = m imes Concentration + b$. - **Units**: Signal units per concentration unit — e.g., counts per ppb, mV per nm. - **Element-Dependent**: In ICP-MS, sensitivity varies by element — Au has different sensitivity than Fe. - **Matrix-Dependent**: The sample matrix can affect sensitivity — matrix effects change the slope. **Why It Matters** - **Detection**: Higher sensitivity enables lower detection limits — more signal per unit analyte. - **Precision**: Higher sensitivity means better signal-to-noise ratio — more precise measurements. - **Optimization**: Sensitivity can be improved by optimizing instrument parameters (wavelength, power, geometry). **Sensitivity** is **how responsive the instrument is** — the magnitude of signal change per unit change in the measured quantity, determining the instrument's ability to detect small differences.