TY - JOUR
T1 - A Case for Electron-Astrophysics
AU - Verscharen, Daniel
AU - Wicks, Robert T.
AU - Alexandrova, Olga
AU - Bruno, Roberto
AU - Burgess, David
AU - Chen, Christopher H.K.
AU - D’Amicis, Raffaella
AU - De Keyser, Johan
AU - de Wit, Thierry Dudok
AU - Franci, Luca
AU - He, Jiansen
AU - Henri, Pierre
AU - Kasahara, Satoshi
AU - Khotyaintsev, Yuri
AU - Klein, Kristopher G.
AU - Lavraud, Benoit
AU - Maruca, Bennett A.
AU - Maksimovic, Milan
AU - Plaschke, Ferdinand
AU - Poedts, Stefaan
AU - Reynolds, Christopher S.
AU - Roberts, Owen
AU - Sahraoui, Fouad
AU - Saito, Shinji
AU - Salem, Chadi S.
AU - Saur, Joachim
AU - Servidio, Sergio
AU - Stawarz, Julia E.
AU - Štverák, Štěpán
AU - Told, Daniel
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s).
PY - 2022/12/1
Y1 - 2022/12/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Electrons
KW - plasma astrophysics
KW - solar wind
KW - space missions
KW - space plasma
KW - Voyage 2050
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85106443026&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10686-021-09761-5
DO - 10.1007/s10686-021-09761-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 36915623
AN - SCOPUS:85106443026
SN - 0922-6435
VL - 54
SP - 473
EP - 519
JO - Experimental Astronomy
JF - Experimental Astronomy
IS - 2-3
ER -