Interplanetary mesoscale observatory (InterMeso): A mission to untangle dynamic mesoscale structures throughout the heliosphere
Interplanetary mesoscale observatory (InterMeso): A mission to untangle dynamic mesoscale structures throughout the heliosphere
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DOI：
10.3389/fspas.2022.1002273
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发表时间：
2022-10
期刊：
影响因子：
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通讯作者：
R. Allen;Evan J. Smith;B. Anderson;J. Borovsky;G. Ho;L. Jian;S. Krucker;S. Lepri;Gang Li;S. Livi;N. Lugaz;D. Malaspina;B. Maruca;P. Mostafavi;J. Raines;D. Verscharen;J. Vievering;S. Vines;P. Whittlesey;L. Wilson III;R. Wimmer–Schweingruber
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作者：
R. Allen;Evan J. Smith;B. Anderson;J. Borovsky;G. Ho;L. Jian;S. Krucker;S. Lepri;Gang Li;S. Livi;N. Lugaz;D. Malaspina;B. Maruca;P. Mostafavi;J. Raines;D. Verscharen;J. Vievering;S. Vines;P. Whittlesey;L. Wilson III;R. Wimmer–Schweingruber
中尺度动力学是空间物理学的一个基本过程，但属于目前和计划中的飞行任务的观测空白。特别是在太阳风中，在中尺度（100 s RE到1 Au的日光经度几度）的测量对于理解日冕和日光层内任何地方的观测者之间的联系至关重要。中尺度动力学也可能是揭示目前尚未解决的物理学调节粒子加速和运输，磁场拓扑结构，以及太阳风等离子体成分和加速变化的原因的关键。使用单点观测的研究不允许调查中尺度太阳风动力学和等离子体变率，也不允许探索大尺度太阳风结构的子结构，如日冕物质抛射（CME），同向旋转/流相互作用区域（CIR/SIRs）和日光层等离子体片。为了解决我们在这些尺度上对日光层的认识中的这一根本性差距，行星际中尺度观测站概念采用了一种多点方法，在1 Au附近的地球拖尾轨道上使用四个相同的航天器。InterMeso航天器漂移速度的变化使使命能够跨越太阳风中的一系列中尺度分离，实现重大和创新的科学回报。同时，在航天器上共同旋转的结构的独立测量也允许消除时空变化的歧义，跟踪太阳风结构的演变，并确定高能粒子的运输如何受到这些变化的影响。
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 (100s 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.