Boosting the Power Output of a HeNe Laser?
Unfortunately, given the existing laws of physics, there usually isn’t much you can do to increase the output power of a HeNe laser above its specified ratings. Unlike an ion laser where higher tube current usually increases power output (at the expense of tube life), boosting current to a HeNe tube beyond the optimal amount actually *decreases* power output. Options like Q-switching don’t exist for HeNe lasers. • For an internal mirror HeNe tube, mirror alignment, power supply current, and dirt on the output mirror, can affect output power. If these are optimal (See the chapter: HeNe Laser Testing, Adjustment, Repair), there is only one other possibility that might do something but mostly for longer HeNe tubes (above 5 mW). That is to add a series of magnets of alternating polarity along the tube as close to the bore as possible (which usually isn’t very close for a typical modern HeNe tube) to suppress the IR wavelengths which otherwise compete for power with the desired visible (e.g
