Mechanisms of the increase of the Cd(II) 441.6 nm laser power by the addition of iodine in a positive column He-Cd+laser

The population densities of the He(I)
2^{3}S
and
2^{3}P
levels and the Cd(II) ground level were experimentally determined with the modified absorption method in a positive column He-Cd laser discharge with little iodine. The population densities of the upper and lower laser levels of the Cd(II) 441.6 nm line were also obtained with the modified absorption method and the gain measurement. From these results, the mechanism of the increase in the Cd(II) 441.6 nm laser power with the addition of iodine was made clear.