Electrothermal furnace for an atomic absorption spectrometer

An electrothermal furnace for an atomic absorption spectrometer for converting a sample to be analyzed into the atomized state, comprising

• a first hollow furnace part which is connected to a first pair of electrodes and includes a first opening for introducing said sample,
• a second hollow furnace part which is connected to a second pair of electrodes and includes a second opening for introducing said sample,
• a respective holder for said first and second furnace parts, and
• a drive element connected to one of said holders for automatically moving said first and second furnace parts between a first position and a second position such that in said first position said first furnace part can be fed with said sample, and that in said second position the openings of said first and second furnace parts are oriented relative to each other such that said sample can be transferred from said first furnace part into said second furnace part, a distance which is required for electrical and thermal decoupling being reproducibly defined in said second position between said first furnace part and said second furnace part.