Optical system for COMPACT

The future complex plasma facility COMPACT will allow the investigation of large three-dimensional complex plasmas under microgravity conditions aboard a space station. COMPACT is a project with international scientific contributions, supported by space agencies (DLR, NASA, ESA) and NSF. Camera-based observation of dust particles is the most important diagnostic for complex plasma experiments. So far, however, measuring their three-dimensional positions has not been possible in low Earth orbit. For COMPACT a sophisticated optical system is foreseen, including 2D and 3D diagnostics. This system consists of the camera setup, the recording hardware and software as well as the evaluation software. We will present concepts/design for the camera setup as well as concepts for the evaluation. This work was and is funded by DLR/BMWi (FKZ 50WM2161, 50WM2561).