Verscharen Daniel, Wicks Robert T, Alexandrova Olga, Bruno Roberto, Burgess David, Chen Christopher H K, D'Amicis Raffaella, De Keyser Johan, de Wit Thierry Dudok, Franci Luca, He Jiansen, Henri Pierre, Kasahara Satoshi, Khotyaintsev Yuri, Klein Kristopher G, Lavraud Benoit, Maruca Bennett A, Maksimovic Milan, Plaschke Ferdinand, Poedts Stefaan, Reynolds Christopher S, Roberts Owen, Sahraoui Fouad, Saito Shinji, Salem Chadi S, Saur Joachim, Servidio Sergio, Stawarz Julia E, Štverák Štěpán, Told Daniel
Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Dorking, UK.
Space Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH USA.
Exp Astron (Dordr). 2022;54(2-3):473-519. doi: 10.1007/s10686-021-09761-5. Epub 2021 Jun 11.
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.
电子动力学决定等离子体行为的最小特征尺度，是空间和天体物理等离子体研究的下一个前沿领域。在这些尺度上对天体物理过程的分析，是电子天体物理学研究主题的核心。电子尺度是等离子体湍流耗散的最终瓶颈，而等离子体湍流是电子动力学 regime 中一个尚未被理解的基本过程。此外，由于与等离子体电子速度分布相关的高热通量，等离子体电子在热能的空间传输中往往起着重要作用。这种电子热通量的调节同样不为人所知。通过关注这些以及其他基本电子过程，电子天体物理学的研究主题将空间物理、天体物理和实验室等离子体物理领域中一些极其重要的科学问题联系起来。在这份应“2050 年航行”呼吁提交给欧洲航天局的白皮书中，我们回顾了一系列这些突出问题，讨论了它们的重要性，并提出了通过新颖的太空任务概念来回答这些问题的路线图。
