Calibration of transmission electron microscopic mass determination using objects with known mass distribution.

An improved calibration procedure is described for dry mass determination methods, that are based on microdensitometry of transmission electron micrographs. Polystyrene latex spheres, that are supposed to have a homogeneous mass distribution, are used for the calibration procedure. By computer fitting of the theoretically expected mass distribution to the distribution measured in a line through the centre of a sphere, a mass calibration factor is obtained. The number of measurements required for a predetermined calibration accuracy can be decreased considerably as compared to other calibration methods. Accurate calibration and reproducible adjustment of the electron optical magnification are required.