Some aspects of dust-plasma interactions in the cosmic environment

In this paper we present a brief, critical review of dust-plasma interactions in the cosmic environment, with emphasis on certain recent results. Both single-particle (e.g. gravitoelectrodynamics) and collective effects (e.g. appearance of new wave modes) are discussed and some areas in which further research is needed are pointed out. Finally the pressing need for laboratory studies, both to provide the necessary data for the theoretical studies and to test the predictions of these theories, is emphasized.