Pressure induced effects in forsixrite monitored by ESR

Summary Chromium doped single crystals of Forsterite where investigated directly under the influence of uniaxial pressure in situ by ESR. The two Cr3+ centres M1 and M2 exhibit distinct response to the action of pressure on the crystal as a whole. The pressure effects are manifested in remarkable changes of the line width of the fine structure transitions. Uniaxial pressure in the MPa range induces nearly symmetrical distribution of distortions of the coordination polyhedra of the Cr3+ centres accompanied by reorientation effects.