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  4. Reliable uncertainties: Error correlation, rotated error bars, and linear regressions in three-isotope plots and beyond
 
research article

Reliable uncertainties: Error correlation, rotated error bars, and linear regressions in three-isotope plots and beyond

Stephan, Thomas
•
Trappitsch, Reto  
June 13, 2023
International Journal Of Mass Spectrometry

Correlated errors of experimental data are a common but often neglected problem in physical sciences. Various tools are provided here for thorough propagation of uncertainties in cases of correlated errors. Discussed are techniques especially applicable to three-isotope plots common in geo-and cosmochemistry, where common denominators in isotope ratios, as well as instrumental effects, such as mass-dependent isotope fractionation, could lead to significant correlation of errors. Furthermore, various techniques for calculating linear regressions are compared to each other, showing that the method suggested by Mahon (1996) [1] gives the best results after correcting for some typographical errors therein and eliminating a minor mistake. We also provide a method for calculating linear regressions through a fixed point, avoiding previously made mistakes.

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Type
research article
DOI
10.1016/j.ijms.2023.117053
Web of Science ID

WOS:001023537200001

Author(s)
Stephan, Thomas
Trappitsch, Reto  
Date Issued

2023-06-13

Publisher

ELSEVIER

Published in
International Journal Of Mass Spectrometry
Volume

491

Article Number

117053

Subjects

Physics, Atomic, Molecular & Chemical

•

Spectroscopy

•

Physics

•

isotopes

•

error correlation

•

three-isotope plots

•

linear regression

•

isotope fractionation

•

straight-line

•

terms

•

ratio

•

laws

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
LGB  
Available on Infoscience
July 31, 2023
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/199473
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