Stability transfer of stabilized Ar/sup +/ laser on optically pumped I/sub 2/ laser towards a frequency standard around 1.3 /spl mu/m

A Doppler-free stimulated-emission technique using an optically pumped I/sub 2/ laser with applications in spectroscopy and infrared frequency standards is reported. A single mode CW Ar ion laser, locked on a hyperfine component of the 13P(43-0) line of the B-X electronic transition /sup 127/I/sub 2/ iodine molecule, is used as laser pump. Continuous wave oscillation is observed on transitions belonging to the B-X system into highly excited vibrational levels of the ground state. The long term stability of the Ar laser (/spl Delta//spl nu///spl nu//spl ap/10/sup -13/ in 100 s) can be transferred to the iodine laser.<
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