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Particle Energization in Space Plasmas: Towards a Multi-Point, Multi-Scale Plasma Observatory
  • +27
  • Alessandro Retino,
  • 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
Alessandro Retino
Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas, CNRS/Ecole Polytechnique/Sorbonne Université/Université Paris-Saclay/Observatoire de Paris, route de Saclay, 91128

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Yuri Khotyaintsev
IRF, Uppsala, Sweden
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Olivier Le Contel
Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas, CNRS/Ecole Polytechnique/Sorbonne Université/Université Paris-Saclay/Observatoire de Paris, route de Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau, France
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Maria Federica Marcucci
IAPS-INAF
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Ferdinand Plaschke
IWF-OEAW
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Andris Vaivads
KTH, Stockholm, Sweden
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Vassilis Angelopoulos
UCLA
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Pasquale Blasi
Gran Sasso Science Institute
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Jim Burch
SWRI
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Johan De Keyser
BIRA-IASB
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Malcolm Dunlop
BUAA
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Lei Dai
NSSC
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Jonathan Eastwood
Imperial College London
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Huishan Fu
BUAA
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Stein Haaland
University of Bergen
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Masahiro Hoshino
University of Tokyo
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Andreas Johlander
University of Helsinki
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Larry Kepko
NASA
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Harald Kucharek
University of New Hampshire
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Gianni Lapenta
KU Leuven
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Benoit Lavraud
IRAP -CNRS
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Olga Malandraki
NOA
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William Matthaeus
University of Delaware
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Kathryn Mcwilliams
University of Saskatchewan
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Anatoli Petrukovich
IKI
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Jean-Louis Pinçon
CNRS
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Yoshifumi Saito
ISAS-JAXA
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Luca Sorriso-Valvo
ISTP-CNR
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Rami Vainio
University of Turku
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Robert Wimmer-Schweingruber
University of Kiel
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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.