Thermodynamic processes in dusty plasma

Here, we propose a thermodynamic model for dusty plasma, where the dust is confined in a small volume within a large plasma background by external fields. In this model, the parameters of dust, e.g. Helmholtz energy, pressure, entropy and enthalpy, etc. can be calculated for given dust density and temperature. The model is solved analytically in the mean field (gaseous) limit and various processes associated with the gaseous phase of dust, e.g. adiabatic/isothermal/constant internal energy expansion/compression, specific heat, free expansion within the plasma background, and the dispersion of novel acoustic waves are studied. Some predictions of the model, e.g. electrostatic pressure of the dust and the isothermal equation of state, have been earlier verified in experiments and numerical simulations. The model is compared with an earlier thermodynamic model of dusty plasma proposed by Hamaguchi and Farouki.