The new physics of dust in plasmas

Abstract

The new physics of dust, which arises due to dust-plasma interaction in space environments and laboratory devices, is presented. The new research horizons (different new fields of physics involving many challenging research problems and open issues) introduced by this new physics of dust in plasmas are explained. The basic features of dust-plasma interaction, particularly, basic characteristics of dust in plasmas, and typical dusty plasma parameters for different space and laboratory conditions are presented. The complexity and the diversity of the field of the new physics of dust in plasmas are briefly discussed. The theoretical and experimental discoveries of dust associated linear waves, nonlinear structures, and some other important phenomena are mentioned. The basic features of dust associated nonlinear structures (viz. solitary waves, shock structures, and Mach cones) obtained from our recent published works are briefly discussed.