The Superposition of an Atom

Under quantum conditions a single atom can be in two places at once, i.e. in superposition with itself. These images show the superposition of an atom from two different perspectives. The red smears (right image) or peaks (left image) indicate that there is a 100% probability an atom is present in that position at the given time. The two blue peaks at the front of the left image or smears at the back of the right image indicate a single atom is 50% present in one position and 50% in another position at the same given time. These graphs are visual translations of equations in quantum theory. Images created by Thomas Fogarty, a graduate student from University College Cork in Ireland currently working in the Quantum Systems Unit.