What Does a Single Atom Look Like?

The following are real-time images of rubidium atoms trapped in a magneto optical trap.

Collection of Rb atoms in a MOT A collection of many rubidium atoms in a Magneto-Optical trap. The atoms are being dragged around by adjusting magnetic fields in real time.

Single Rb atom trapped in a MOT A single rubidium atom trapped, this time with the large magnetic fields held constant.