Zeeman effect in α-quartz

The helical crystal structure in α-quartz acts as the natural micro-solenoids for an electromagnetic wave passing through them, producing a longitudinal magnetic field in the direction of the optical axis. The longitudinal magnetic field further induces the Larmor frequency for the rotation of the bound electrons. The calculated Larmor frequency was experimentally confirmed by monitoring a line splitting of the infrared OH-band in the transmission spectra of α-quartz. A shift in the resonance frequency of the OH-band is equal to the Larmor frequency induced by the natural Zeeman effect.