Fluorescent_zoning_topaz_404nm

Note from 11 May 2017: I realise now that the small triangular yellow stone referred to here as a topaz is actually a chrysoberyl ( Be Al2 O4). This has been confirmed with a measurement of the refractive indices as 1.73, 1.74.

Patterns in the fluorescence emission seen in a yellow topaz crystal under 404nm laser illumination. This pattern is invisible in a normal white-light transmission image. These two photomicrographs are taken through a yellow filter to cut most of the blue laser light which would otherwise flood the image.

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