Optical Absorption Lines of Ruby in a Strong Magnetic Field

Abstract

The Zeeman effect of the B and R absorption lines of ruby was observed photographically with strong pulsed magnetic fields up to 230 kOe at 77°K. This was achieved by flashing a Xe-lamp at the time when a magnetic field reached its peak. The duration of the pulsed field was made to be about 1 m sec which was much longer than that of the pulsed light, about 20 μsec. The g-values of the excited states responsible for the B and R lines were measured and the comparison was made with those reported by other authors. For the Zeeman patterns of the R lines with magnetic fields perpendicular to the optic axis, the Paschen-Back effect was calculated and compared with the observed patterns.