Plasma-Dust Processes in Physics of Comets

Abstract

Since cometary dust interacts with electrons and ions of the surrounding plasma, as well as with solar radiation, the dust becomes charged. As a result, it is possible to treat the medium surrounding the comet nucleus as a dusty plasma. The purpose of the present paper is to discuss plasma-dust processes in comet physics. It is shown that plasma-dust processes can have significant manifestations in the formation of the bow shock formed due to the interaction of the comet’s coma with the solar wind, as well as in situations when the comet is far from the Sun.