Mach cones in dusty plasmas in planetary rings and in laboratory experiments

We have discussed in more detail the possibilities of extracting information on the dusty plasma conditions in planetary rings and in laboratories by observing the V-shaped Mach cone pattern around a charged body moving through or close to a layer of dusty plasma. Based on the existing theories for dust acoustic waves and accelerations of dust orbits at the front of the body we find that, if the normal plasma parameters are known, we should be able to extract information on the dust average sizes and size distribution, the dust number density and material density. With more refined theories for the dust acoustic wave and dust bow shocks, including a dust size distribution it should be possible to find additional and more accurate information on the total plasma conditions. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.