Previously x-ray method was sometimes unable to accurately determine elements at low concentration in complex heterogeneous matrices. Other techniques can successfully use digestion and/or fusion methods to reduce samples to a dilute homogeneous form. However, when applying these methods of sample preparation to x-rax, detection limits were often unacceptable. The QuickSolve method is a simple but extremely effective manual operation that employs no expensive equipment. It requires a small plastic bottle preloaded with a fixed amount of the Environmental Sample preparation Matrix (ESPM). This ia a totally safe, fine powder with high adsorption capacity. After adding a fixed mass of sample, manual shaking with stainless steel balls produces a stable principle for the analysis of complex matrices by x-ray, that is, dilution reduces all samples to similar form thus largely eliminating matrix and interelement effects. The first group, acid producing elements, can be present at major concentrations, above one percent and acceptance of shipments may depend on the concentration of this elements. The QuickSolve calibration provides accurate determination of Br, Cl, I, P and S. Preparation of standards is from pure organic and aqueous solvent. The second group, heavy metals/toxic volatile elements, requires determination of some elements to better than 20 mg kg^-1 .The calibration cover all relevant elements from vanadium to barium. Preparation of standards is from pure aqueous spectroscopic solutions. The analysis time is up to 15 minutes depending on the number of element.

Raman spectroscopic studies were carried out to investigate the synthesis of hybrid polymers prepared for photonic applications by a sol-gel technology. The main aim was to analyse the ability of Raman measurements to estimate the efficiency and correctness of particular stages of the technological process. Parameters of measurement systems adequate for hybrid material characterisation were found. Dedicated fibre optic system was attached to reaction glass vessel and on-line monitoring was being performed during the first step of the process - gelation. Hybrid polymer thin films, after deposition on technological substrate, were studied by Raman microscopy. Efficiency and time of the most important reactions such as hydrolysis, epoxy ring opening, amine transformation, double bonds opening can be measured as well as thickness of thin films can be estimated.

Paper deals with measurement of polarization properties of fibers along incidence of different external effects as temperature, torsion and magnetic field. Study of polarization is important from the polarization dispersion point of view for communication systems and also in the area of interferometric and polarization sensors or general interferometric measurements. Analysis of individual effects is solved theoretically and practically in the series of works. Our contribution solves a relatively short part of fiber, where additionally fluctuation of power between both polarization modes could affect.

In precision length measurements the accurate and traceable value of the linear thermal expansion coefficient (LTEC) is needed. A device for interferometric determination of the LTEC of gauge blocks has been constructed. Minimum temperature gradients in a gauge block with 500 mm maximum length and relatively fast operation were the objectives of this project. Based on uncertainty analysis LTEC can be measured with a standard uncertainty of 0,02·10^-6 1/K for 100 mm gauge blocks.

We have investigated the intrinsic accuracy of the optical frequency scale in spectra acquired by a Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS). The uncalibrated accuracy of the FTS optical frequency axis is about 1 part in 10⁵. This uncertainty can be reduced by at least two orders of magnitude using a multiplicative calibration correction derived from a single wavelength standard line. The work reported here describes a new approach to accurate calibration of the wavenumber scale for a UV-visible FTS, which we have used to measure accurate wavenumbers and Ar pressure shifts for the prominent lines of ¹⁹⁸Hg.