Sub-Doppler molecular-iodine transitions near the dissociation limit (523-498 nm)

A widely tunable and high-resolution spectrometer based on a frequency-doubled Ti:sapphire laser was used to explore sub-Doppler transitions of iodine molecules in the wavelength range 523-498 nm. The wavelength dependence of the hyperfine transition linewidth of iodine was mapped out in this region, and the narrowest linewidth was ∼4 kHz near 508 nm. The hyperfine-resolved patterns were found to be largely modified toward the dissociation limit. The observed excellent signal-to-noise ratio should lead to high-quality optical frequency standards that are better than those of the popular 532-nm system.