New Determination of the Fine Structure Constant and Test of the Quantum Electrodynamics
We present a new measurement of the ratio h/mRb between the Planck constant and the mass of 87Rb atom. A new value of the fine structure constant is deduced, α−1 = 137.035 999 037 (91) with a relative uncertainty of 6.6 × 10−10. Using this determination, we obtain a theoretical value of the electron anomaly ae = 0.001 159 652 181 13(84) which is in agreement with the experimental measurement of Gabrielse (ae = 0.001 159 652 180 73(28)). The comparison of these values provides the most stringent test of the QED. Moreover, the precision is large enough to verify for the first time the muonic and hadronic contributions to this anomaly.