Rod-shaped ruby boule, polarized spectroscopy

A synthetic ruby (sapphire + Cr^3+) set up for transmission spectroscopy with a linear polarizing filter. The spectrometer fibre can be seen at the top. Spectra were taken without the polarizer and with it in each of two rotations separated by 90 degrees. A spectrum was also taken from the end of the rod with the same illumination shown in the image: this shows the fluorescence (laser) line most strongly. The fractional polarization is strongest in the green absorption band at 570nm.

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