Direct Determination of Particle-Particle Interactions in a 2D Plasma Dust Crystal

Particle interactions were directly determined from the lateral compression of two-dimensional plasma dust crystals confined in a parabolic potential well. Measured particle separations combined with an equation of state for the crystal were used to derive values for the particle screening length and the charge on the particles. The shape of the parabolic potential well was confirmed by observing trajectories of single particles falling within the well. No evidence of a lateral particle-particle binding was observed.