Experiments

Abstract

The experiments performed in the scope of this thesis aim to contribute to the understanding of the description of a two-dimensional system of particles on the kinetic level, particularly with regard to the phase state. For this purpose, a two-dimensional system of dust particles had to be generated in the laboratory and its state had to be identified not only by means of structural properties, but in consideration of the particle motion itself. The behavior of those dynamical and structural characteristics during a continuous change of the state of the system has to be observed to understand the underlying processes. The basic experimental setup is described in the following Sect. 3.1, including the techniques for particle detection and the methods for manipulation of the particle system necessary to obtain a change in its state. An overview on the data acquisition and primary data analysis to obtain particle coordinates and velocities is given in Sect. 3.2. The uncertainties to be considered in this procedures are addressed in the last Sect. 3.3.