Allen, Robert C;
Smith, Evan J;
Anderson, Brian J;
Borovsky, Joe;
Ho, George C;
Jian, Lan;
Krucker, Säm;
... Wimmer-Schweingruber, Robert; + view all
(2022)
Interplanetary mesoscale observatory (InterMeso): A mission to untangle dynamic mesoscale structures throughout the heliosphere.
Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
, 9
, Article 1002273. 10.3389/fspas.2022.1002273.
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Abstract
Mesoscale dynamics are a fundamental process in space physics, but fall within an observational gap of current and planned missions. Particularly in the solar wind, measurements at the mesoscales (100’s RE to a few degrees heliographic longitude at 1 au) are crucial for understanding the connection between the corona and an observer anywhere within the heliosphere. Mesoscale dynamics may also be key to revealing the currently unresolved physics regulating particle acceleration and transport, magnetic field topology, and the causes of variability in the composition and acceleration of solar wind plasma. Studies using single-point observations do not allow for investigations into mesoscale solar wind dynamics and plasma variability, nor do they allow for the exploration of the sub-structuring of large-scale solar wind structures like coronal mass ejections (CMEs), co-rotating/stream interaction regions (CIR/SIRs), and the heliospheric plasma sheet. To address this fundamental gap in our knowledge of the heliosphere at these scales, the Interplanetary Mesoscale Observatory (InterMeso) concept employs a multi-point approach using four identical spacecraft in Earth-trailing orbits near 1 au. Varying drift speeds of the InterMeso spacecraft enable the mission to span a range of mesoscale separations in the solar wind, achieving significant and innovative science return. Simultaneous, longitudinally-separated measurements of structures co-rotating over the spacecraft also allow for disambiguation of spatiotemporal variability, tracking of the evolution of solar wind structures, and determination of how the transport of energetic particles is impacted by these variabilities.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Interplanetary mesoscale observatory (InterMeso): A mission to untangle dynamic mesoscale structures throughout the heliosphere |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.3389/fspas.2022.1002273 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.3389/fspas.2022.1002273 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © 2022 Allen, Smith, Anderson, Borovsky, Ho, Jian, Krucker, Lepri, Li, Livi, Lugaz, Malaspina, Maruca, Mostafavi, Raines, Verscharen, Vievering, Vines, Whittlesey, Wilson III and Wimmer-Schweingruber. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. |
| Keywords: | Solar wind, Mission concept, mesoscale, Particle Acceleration, Particle Transport |
| UCL classification: | UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Space and Climate Physics UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL |
| URI: | https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10154915 |
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