Ultraviolet optogalvanic laser spectroscopy of iron for reference wavelengths.

We present a preliminary study of a UV optogalvanic spectrum obtained by using a see-through iron hollow cathode and a tunable pulsed laser in the 240-260-nm range. The hollow cathode used and described is a homemade device that can be run in static- or dynamic-flow gas regimes. Spectra have been recorded with argon and neon buffer gases, and many classified Fe I lines have been identified. The accuracy of the measured wave numbers is limited at present to 0.05 cm(-1) by the spectral width of the UV laser. This iron optogalvanic spectrum is proposed for reference-wavelength calibration in UV laser spectroscopy, and an application to the study of Ba(+) Rydberg levels is reported. Possibilities for future developments of such a device are analyzed.