Particle energization in space plasmas: towards a multi-point, multi-scale plasma observatory
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Retino, Alessandro
Khotyaintsev, Yuri
Le Contel, Olivier
Marcucci, Maria Federica
Plaschke, Ferdinand
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This White Paper outlines the importance of addressing the fundamental science theme “How are charged particles energized in space plasmas” through a future ESA mission. The White Paper presents five compelling science questions related to particle energization by shocks, reconnection, waves and turbulence, jets and their combinations. Answering these questions requires resolving scale coupling, nonlinearity, and nonstationarity, which cannot be done with existing multi-point observations. In situ measurements from a multi-point, multi-scale L-class Plasma Observatory consisting of at least seven spacecraft covering fluid, ion, and electron scales are needed. The Plasma Observatory will enable a paradigm shift in our comprehension of particle energization and space plasma physics in general, with a very important impact on solar and astrophysical plasmas. It will be the next logical step following Cluster, THEMIS, and MMS for the very large and active European space plasmas community. Being one of the cornerstone missions of the future ESA Voyage 2050 science programme, it would further strengthen the European scientific and technical leadership in this important field.
Date Issued
2022-12-01
Date Acceptance
2021-09-23
Citation
Experimental Astronomy: an international journal on astronomical instrumentation and data analysis, 2022, 54, pp.427-471
ISSN
0922-6435
Publisher
Springer
Start Page
427
End Page
471
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:000725905500001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Astrophysical plasmas
COSMIC-RAYS
DIFFUSION REGION
DIPOLARIZATION
ELECTRON ACCELERATION
ENERGY-CONVERSION
Heliosphere
IN-SITU EVIDENCE
JETS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION MECHANISM
Particle energization
Physical Sciences
Scale coupling
Science & Technology
SOLAR-WIND
Space plasmas
Spacecraft constellations
TURBULENCE
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-12-04