Output power enhancement of the 632.8 nm monomode He-Ne/I2-laser

For the He-Ne/I₂-laser, a stable monomode operation has been realized when the tube pressure exceeds a certain level. An output power of more than 1 mW has been obtained at the 632.8 nm laser transition. Within the monomode tuning range of the laser, the d, e, f, g, and h, i, j iodine hyperfine components of the R(127) line of the 11–5 band of the B ³ II ⁺ _0u–X ¹⁺ _0g electronic transition have been observed. The mode selection method used makes it possible to increase the contrast of the iodine hyperfine components.