Ruby-spheres as pressure gauge for optically transparent high pressure cells

Abstract Ruby is widely used as an in siru pressure gauge for optically transparent pressure cells up to the megabar range. Usually ruby chips cut from bulk crystals are used which are ill-characterized and inconvenient to handle and to identify visually. Here we present a systematic study on corundum samples doped with Cr3+ ions with concentration from 60 to 23500 ppm to determine the optimal conditions for the use as an accurate pressure marker. The influence of the excitation wavelength on the luminescence spectra was investigated. These studies led to the synthesis of small (1–50 micrometer) ruby spheres with 3000 ppm chromium concentration. After annealing and a heat treatment to avoid internal strains we find reproducible values of the position and the width of the fluorescence lines. These ruby spheres are not only well suited for a reliable and accurate pressure determination in experiments using diamond anvil cells, but can also be used as an in sihr micro-thermometer in high pressure-low temperature studies.