G.D. Dickenson, M.L. Niu, E.J. Salumbides, J. Komasa, K.S.E. Eikema, K. Pachucki, W. Ubachs
The fundamental ground tone vibration of H2, HD, and D 2 is determined to an accuracy of 2×10-4 cm -1 from Doppler-free laser spectroscopy in the collisionless environment of a molecular beam. This rotationless vibrational splitting is derived from the combination difference between electronic excitation from the X1Σg+, v=0, and v=1 levels to a common EF1Σg+, v=0 level. Agreement within 1σ between the experimental result and a full ab initio calculation provides a stringent test of quantum electrodynamics in a chemically bound system. © 2013 American Physical Society.
Department of Physics and Astronomy, LaserLaB, VU University, 1081HV Amsterdam, de Boelelaan 1081, Netherlands; Department of Physics, University of San Carlos, Cebu City 6000, Philippines; Faculty of Chemistry, A. Mickiewicz University, 60-780 Poznań, Grunwaldzka 6, Poland; Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, 00-681 Warsaw, Hoza 69, Poland
