Understanding the collective response of matter to the effect of light is important for basic research and also offers a wide range of possibilities for applications. Clusters as a link between atoms and solids are of particular interest in this context, as their physical and chemical properties can be adjusted almost arbitrarily via material and particle size. Using the example of the charge state and utilizing particle traps and high-resolution diagnostics, we will show what effects plasmons cause in strongly negatively and extremely positively charged systems and how these experiments contribute to our understanding of the underlying processes and their dynamics.