  We demonstrated that an iodine stabilized Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR)
diode based laser system lasing at a wavelength in close proximity to $\lambda
= 633\,$nm could be used as an alternative laser source to the He-Ne lasers in
both scientific and industrial metrology. This yields additional advantages
besides the optical frequency stability and coherence: inherent traceability,
wider optical frequency tuning range, higher output power and high frequency
modulation capability. We experimentally investigated the characteristics of
the laser source in two major steps: first using a wavelength meter referenced
to a frequency comb controlled with a hydrogen maser and then on a
interferometric optical bench testbed where we compared the performance of the
laser system with that of a traditional frequency stabilized He-Ne laser. The
results indicate that DBR diode laser system provides a good laser source for
applications in dimensional (nano)metrology, especially in conjunction with
novel interferometric detection methods exploiting high frequency modulation or
multiaxis measurement systems.
