Determination of best particle tracking velocimetry method for two-dimensional dusty plasmas

A practical procedure of determining the best choice of particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) methods for the analysis of two-dimensional (2D) dusty plasmas is provided. Using the measured particle positions with errors, the algorithm of PTV introduces further systematic errors while calculating particle velocities. To better quantify the errors, computer simulations of 2D Yukawa liquids are performed so that the true particle positions and velocities are precisely known. Synthetic data are achieved by varying the time interval between frames and adding the uncertainty with the different magnitude to the particle position data. Various PTV methods are used to calculate the velocity data from the achieved synthetic data, and the obtained velocity data from these PTV methods are compared with the true velocity data using two diagnostics to determine the best PTV method for various conditions. The results of various PTV methods with the simulation data are further confirmed by the demonstration using the 2D dusty plasma experimental data. This practical procedure is also applicable to determine the best PTV method for dusty plasmas in different conditions, such as those in Tokamaks, and for other physical systems, including colloids, granular materials, and fluid mechanics.