Abstract
In this article, a strategy to track microparticles and link their trajectories adapted to the study of the melting of a quasi two-dimensional complex plasma crystal induced by the mode-coupling instability is presented. Because of the three-dimensional nature of the microparticle motions and the inhomogeneities of the illuminating laser light sheet, the scattered light intensity can change significantly between two frames, making the detection of the microparticles and the linking of their trajectories quite challenging. Thanks to a two-pass noise removal process based on Gaussian blurring of the original frames using two different kernel widths, the signal-to-noise ratio was increased to a level that allowed a better intensity thresholding of different regions of the images and, therefore, the tracking of the poorly illuminated microparticles. Then, by predicting the positions of the microparticles based on their previous positions, long particle trajectories could be reconstructed, allowing accurate measurement of the evolution of the microparticle energies and the evolution of the monolayer properties.
Highlights
Complex plasmas are partially ionised gases containing microparticles
Due to the interactions between the microspheres, the monolayer can under specific conditions crystallise and form the so-called two-dimensional (2D) complex plasma crystal [6,7,8,9,10,11]
We present a tracking and linking strategy adapted to the study of mode coupling instability (MCI) and MCI-induced 2D complex plasma crystal melting
Summary
Complex (or dusty) plasmas are partially ionised gases containing microparticles. Due to the collection of the surrounding ions and electrons, the microparticles are (negatively) charged [1,2,3].In laboratory experiments, injected monodisperse microspheres levitate at the same height above the confining electrode and form a monolayer [4,5]. Complex (or dusty) plasmas are partially ionised gases containing microparticles. Due to the collection of the surrounding ions and electrons, the microparticles are (negatively) charged [1,2,3]. In laboratory experiments, injected monodisperse microspheres levitate at the same height above the confining electrode and form a monolayer [4,5]. Due to the interactions between the microspheres, the monolayer can under specific conditions crystallise (i.e., arrange itself into an ordered structure) and form the so-called two-dimensional (2D) complex plasma crystal [6,7,8,9,10,11]. In 2D complex plasma crystals, microparticles are observable by recording the scattered light of a horizontal laser sheet using a (high speed) video camera. It is possible to obtain a rather complete picture about the state of the whole system of particles in the kinetic (x, v)-space
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
