This is an Actual Photo of An Atom: 

The hydrogen atom, with its single electron, serves as a key model for exploring quantum behavior. 

This is because, in the presence of a direct current (dc) electric field, the atom’s Stark Hamiltonian can be exactly separated in parabolic coordinates. 

This unique feature allows the microscopic wave function near the atom and its continuum counterpart at macroscopic distances to exhibit identical nodal structures.

Using photoionization microscopy, the researchers captured this nodal pattern, offering a striking validation of theoretical models that have been developed over the past 30 years. 

The experiment demonstrates the power of quantum mechanics in describing the fundamental nature of matter, providing an unprecedented view of the wave function that governs atomic behavior.

Learn more: https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.213001