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Particle energization in space plasmas: towards a multi-point, multi-scale plasma observatory

  • Alessandro Retinò*
  • , Yuri Khotyaintsev*
  • , Olivier Le Contel
  • , Maria Federica Marcucci
  • , Ferdinand Plaschke
  • , Andris Vaivads
  • , Vassilis Angelopoulos
  • , Pasquale Blasi
  • , Jim Burch
  • , Johan De Keyser
  • , Malcolm Dunlop
  • , Lei Dai
  • , Jonathan Eastwood
  • , Huishan Fu
  • , Stein Haaland
  • , Masahiro Hoshino
  • , Andreas Johlander
  • , Larry Kepko
  • , Harald Kucharek
  • , Gianni Lapenta
  • Benoit Lavraud, Olga Malandraki, William Matthaeus, Kathryn McWilliams, Anatoli Petrukovich, Jean Louis Pinçon, Yoshifumi Saito, Luca Sorriso-Valvo, Rami Vainio, Robert Wimmer-Schweingruber
*Corresponding author for this work
  • Sorbonne Université
  • Box 537
  • National Institute for Astrophysics
  • Austrian Academy of Sciences
  • KTH Royal Institute of Technology
  • University of California at Los Angeles
  • Gran Sasso Science Institute
  • SwRI
  • Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy
  • RAL
  • Beihang University
  • CAS - National Space Science Center
  • Imperial College London
  • University of Bergen
  • The University of Tokyo
  • University of Helsinki
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • University of New Hampshire
  • KU Leuven
  • Institute de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie
  • NOA
  • University of Delaware
  • University of Saskatchewan
  • Space Research Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences
  • Laboratory de Physique et Chimie de l'Environnement
  • JAXA Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
  • National Research Council of Italy
  • University of Turku
  • Kiel University

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)427-471
Number of pages45
JournalExperimental Astronomy
Volume54
Issue number2-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2022

Keywords

  • Astrophysical plasmas
  • Heliosphere
  • Particle energization
  • Scale coupling
  • Space plasmas
  • Spacecraft constellations

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