| Names |
A. Vaivads, G. Andersson, S. D. Bale, C. M. Cully, J. De Keyser, M. Fujimoto, S. Grahn, S. Haaland, H. Ji, Yu. V. Khotyaintsev, A. Lazarian, B. Lavraud, I. R. Mann, R. Nakamura, T. K. M. Nakamura, Y. Narita, A. Retinò, F. Sahraoui, A. Schekochihin, S |
| Abstract |
We describe the mission concept of how ESA can make a major contribution
to the Japanese Canadian multi-spacecraft mission SCOPE by adding one
cost-effective spacecraft EIDO (Electron and Ion Dynamics Observatory),
which has a comprehensive and optimized plasma payload to address the
physics of particle acceleration. The combined mission EIDOSCOPE will
distinguish amongst and quantify the governing processes of particle
acceleration at several important plasma boundaries and their associated
boundary layers: collisionless shocks, plasma jet fronts, thin current
sheets and turbulent boundary layers. Particle acceleration and
associated cross-scale coupling is one of the key outstanding topics to
be addressed in the Plasma Universe. The very important science
questions that only the combined EIDOSCOPE mission will be able to
tackle are: 1) Quantitatively, what are the processes and efficiencies
with which both electrons and ions are selectively injected and
subsequently accelerated by collisionless shocks? 2) How does
small-scale electron and ion acceleration at jet fronts due to kinetic
processes couple simultaneously to large scale acceleration due to fluid
(MHD) mechanisms? 3) How does multi-scale coupling govern acceleration
mechanisms at electron, ion and fluid scales in thin current sheets? 4)
How do particle acceleration processes inside turbulent boundary layers
depend on turbulence properties at ion/electron scales? EIDO particle
instruments are capable of resolving full 3D particle distribution
functions in both thermal and suprathermal regimes and at high enough
temporal resolution to resolve the relevant scales even in very dynamic
plasma processes. The EIDO spin axis is designed to be sun-pointing,
allowing EIDO to carry out the most sensitive electric field
measurements ever accomplished in the outer magnetosphere. Combined with
a nearby SCOPE Far Daughter satellite, EIDO will form a second pair (in
addition to SCOPE Mother-Near Daughter) of closely separated satellites
that provides the unique capability to measure the 3D electric field
with high accuracy and sensitivity. All EIDO instrumentation are
state-of-the-art technology with heritage from many recent missions. The
EIDOSCOPE orbit will be close to equatorial with apogee 25-30 RE and
perigee 8-10 RE. In the course of one year the orbit will cross all the
major plasma boundaries in the outer magnetosphere; bow shock,
magnetopause and magnetotail current sheets, jet fronts and turbulent
boundary layers. EIDO offers excellent cost/benefits for ESA, as for
only a fraction of an M-class mission cost ESA can become an integral
part of a major multi-agency L-class level mission that addresses
outstanding science questions for the benefit of the European science
community. |