title: QED effects in molecules: test on rotational quantum states of H2.
abstract: Quantum electrodynamic effects have been systematically tested in the progression of rotational quantum states in the X 1Σ(g)(+), v=0 vibronic ground state of molecular hydrogen. High-precision Doppler-free spectroscopy of the EF 1Σ(g)(+)-X 1Σ(g)(+) (0,0) band was performed with 0.005  cm(-1) accuracy on rotationally hot H2 (with rotational quantum states J up to 16). QED and relativistic contributions to rotational level energies as high as 0.13  cm(-1) are extracted, and are in perfect agreement with recent calculations of QED and high-order relativistic effects for the H2 ground state.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Lasers, Life and Biophotonics Amsterdam, VU University, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. e.j.salumbides@vu.nl
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Salumbides
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Dickenson
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Ivanov
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ubachs