Using video-microscopy data of a two-dimensional colloidal system the
bond-order correlation function G6 is calculated and used to determine the
temperature-dependence of both the orientational correlation length xi6 in the
isotropic liquid phase and the Frank constant F_A in the hexatic phase. F_A
takes the value 72/pi at the hexatic to isotropic liquid phase transition and
diverges at the hexatic to crystal transition as predicted by the KTHNY-theory.
This is a quantitative test of the mechanism of breaking the orientational
symmetry by disclination unbinding