We use the coherent backscattering interference effect to investigate experimentally and theoretically how coherent transport of light inside a cold atomic vapor is affected by the residual motion of atomic scatterers. As the temperature of the atomic cloud increases, the interference contrast decreases dramatically. This emphasizes the role of motion-induced decoherence for resonant scatterers...

Selected cultures of mercury-resistant bacteria degrade the fungicide-slimicide phenylmercuric acetate. By means of a closed system incorporating a flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometer and a vapor phase chromatograph, it was demonstrated that elemental mercury vapor and benzene were products of phenylmercuric acetate degradation.

Monitoring of mercury in environmental samples, with its proven toxicity on the food chain, requires sensitive and accurate analytical techniques. In this study, two methods for identification and quantification of total mercury in biological and sediment samples are compared: i) dry ash preparation and subsequent established procedures for Combustion Atomic Absorption Spectrometry, (AMA 254) ...

We report a proof-of-principle experiment where the refractive index of an atomic vapor is enhanced while maintaining vanishing absorption of the beam. The key idea is to drive alkali atoms in a vapor with appropriate control lasers and induce a gain resonance and an absorption resonance for a probe beam in a two-photon Raman configuration. The strength and the position of these two resonances ...

objective: exposure to mercury can occur in occupational and environmental settings. during clinical work with dental amalgam, the dental personnel are exposed to both metallic mercury and mercury vapor. the aim of the present study was to investigate blood mercury level (bml) and its determinants among dentists practicing in hamadan city, iran. materials and methods: this cross sectional study...

Extensive distribution of hazardous substances in food chain and the deleterious effect of their residues on public health are a great concern of the society. Chicken eggs, as one of the most popular food commodities, in different parts of Tehran (Iran) were analyzed for two groups of hazardous substances including some organochlorine pesticides (OC) such as aldrin, lindane, dieldrin, dichlorod...

We evaluated the evacuated phlebotomy tube designed specifically for trace metal analysis by Sherwood Medical Co. Pools of human serum containing known concentrations of aluminum, arsenic, calcium, cadmium, copper, chromium, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, mercury, selenium, and zinc were exposed to the tube and rubber stopper for defined periods ranging from 5 min to 24 h. Analysis for each ...

IN CONVENTIONAL atomic absorption spectrophotometry a solution of the sample is introduced into the flame as an aerosol by means of a nebulizer. However, commercial nebulizers are only about 5 efficient in forming fine droplets suitable for atomization by the flame ( I ) . Furthermore, a solution aspirated at a usual rate of 3-5 ml/min for about 10 sec produces a concentration signal extending ...