Zeeman Effect of R-Lines in Alexandrite under High Magnetic Fields

Abstract

The Zeeman effect of the R-lines in alexandrite was investigated by using pulsed high magnetic fields up to 400 kOe. Well separated Zeeman splitting of R-lines was observed below liquid nitrogen temperature. Different from the R-lines in ruby, all the transitions with ΔS_z=0, ±1 and ±2 are observed in alexandrite reflecting the lower symmetry on the Cr³⁺ ion site. The excited state g-values along the a-, b- and c-axes are experimentally determined as 1.6, 1.4 and 1.3 for the A′-state (R₁) and 2.0, 1.4 and 1.4 are obtained for the A″-state (R₂), respectively.