Coupling of specific plasma processes to turbulent dynamics in collisionless plasmas

Determine how specific plasma processes couple into turbulent dynamics in collisionless plasmas and lead to energy dissipation and particle energisation, identifying the mechanisms and pathways responsible for this coupling.

Background

The paper investigates energy conversion signatures (j·E′) associated with kinetic microinstabilities in Earth’s magnetosheath using MMS observations. A central motivation is to better understand how microphysical processes within collisionless plasmas connect to macroscopic turbulent dynamics and result in dissipation and particle energisation.

By quantifying enhanced non-ideal energy conversion near temperature anisotropy–beta instability thresholds, the work aims to shed light on this broader unresolved question of process–turbulence coupling in collisionless environments.

References

This work provides insight into the open question of how specific plasma processes couple into the turbulent dynamics and ultimately lead to energy dissipation and particle energisation in collisionless plasmas.

— Turbulent Energy Conversion Associated with Kinetic Microinstabilities in Earth's Magnetosheath (2407.20844 - Lewis et al., 30 Jul 2024) in Abstract (page 1)