A case for electron-astrophysics
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Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The smallest characteristic scales, at which electron dynamics determines the plasma behaviour, are the next frontier in space and astrophysical plasma research. The analysis of astrophysical processes at these scales lies at the heart of the research theme of electron-astrophysics. Electron scales are the ultimate bottleneck for dissipation of plasma turbulence, which is a fundamental process not understood in the electron-kinetic regime. In addition, plasma electrons often play an important role for the spatial transfer of thermal energy due to the high heat flux associated with their velocity distribution. The regulation of this electron heat flux is likewise not understood. By focussing on these and other fundamental electron processes, the research theme of electron-astrophysics links outstanding science questions of great importance to the fields of space physics, astrophysics, and laboratory plasma physics. In this White Paper, submitted to ESA in response to the Voyage 2050 call, we review a selection of these outstanding questions, discuss their importance, and present a roadmap for answering them through novel space-mission concepts.
Date Issued
2022-12-01
Date Acceptance
2021-05-07
Citation
Experimental Astronomy: an international journal on astronomical instrumentation and data analysis, 2022, 54, pp.473-519
ISSN
0922-6435
Publisher
Springer
Start Page
473
End Page
519
Journal / Book Title
Experimental Astronomy: an international journal on astronomical instrumentation and data analysis
Volume
54
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2021. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
License URL
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000660378900001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
ALFVEN-CYCLOTRON WAVES
ALPHA-PARTICLES
Astronomy & Astrophysics
EARTHS MAGNETOPAUSE DEPENDENCE
Electrons
HEAT-FLUX INSTABILITY
ICME-DRIVEN SHOCKS
MAGNETIC HELICITY SPECTRUM
Physical Sciences
plasma astrophysics
QUASI-THERMAL NOISE
Science & Technology
solar wind
SOLAR-WIND TURBULENCE
space missions
space plasma
VELOCITY-SPACE INSTABILITIES
Voyage 2050
WHISTLER-MODE WAVES
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-06-11