STUDY OF INCANDESCENT FILAMENTS AS SOURCES OF URANIUM AND ZIRCONIUM ATOMS FOR LASER-INDUCED FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY EXPERIMENTS

The results of an experimental study of incandescent filaments are presented. These filaments can be used to create neutral uranium and zirconium atoms in laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy experiments. Under the operating conditions used in our experiments, we conclude, in disagreement with the implications of the literature, that the incandescent filaments cannot be used for spectroscopic investigations of this type. However, a hollow cathode luminescent discharge represents a simple alternative which could be used to generate a vapour of these elements suitable for fluorescence studies.