Optical absorption spectrum of Cr3+ in natural ruby

Two sharp line-like bands calledN andR lines on the red side, a close doublet (B lines) on the violet side and two broad bands are observed for natural ruby. At liquid air temperature the splitting ofR line was found and also three sharp-bands calledR, R′ andB lines are identified with spin-forbidden transitions of² E,² T ₁ and² T ₂. The two broad bands calledU band andY band are assigned accordingly to the spin-allowed transitions⁴ T ₂ and⁴ T ₁ respectively. The observed bands of natural ruby have been attributed to Cr³⁺ ion in an octahedral environment with trigonal distortion. The crystal field parameters which gave a good fit to the observed band positions areB=732 cm⁻¹,C=4.25B,Dq=1830 cm⁻¹,V=−1996 cm⁻¹ andλ=34 cm⁻¹.