Misc,

On the role of wave-particle interactions in the macroscopic dynamics of collisionless plasmas

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(Oct 23, 2015)

Abstract

What is the relative importance of small-scale (i.e., electron to sub-electron scales), microphysical plasma processes to the acceleration of particles from thermal to suprathermal or even to cosmic-ray energies? Additionally, can these microphysical plasma processes influence or even dominate macroscopic (i.e., greater than ion scales) processes, thus affecting global dynamics? These are fundamental and unresolved questions in plasma and astrophysical research. Recent observations of large amplitude electromagnetic waves in the terrestrial radiation belts i.e., Cattell et al., 2008; Kellogg et al., 2010; Wilson III et al., 2011 and in collisionless shock waves i.e., Wilson III et al., 2014a,b have raised questions regarding the macrophysical effect of these microscopic waves. The processes thought to dominate particle acceleration and the macroscopic dynamics in both regions have been brought into question with these recent observations. The relative importance of wave-particle interactions has recently gained renewed and increased attention in these regions of space. In this commentary, we discuss some open questions pertaining to the above issues and raise further questions about the possible impact of wave-particle interactions on regions of space that are currently inaccessible (e.g., the solar corona).

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