Experimental tests of quantum electrodynamics in weak field

This paper resumes the most precise tests of QED. We mainly describe the recent measurements of the Lamb shifts in hydrogen, deuterium and helium. The new optical frequency measurements of the 1s–2s and 2s–8s transitions in hydrogen and deuterium give now the most precise determination of the Rydberg constant and of the Lamb shifts of the 1s and 2s levels. The accurate measurement of the 2³S₁ Lamb shift in helium is also presented. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.