GEOPLASMAS · Dissipative structures and kinetic processes in the near Earth plasmas

This exchange programme has the objective to carry out research in the field of space plasmas, with particular emphasis on near Earth plasmas such as the magnetosphere, the ionosphere, and the solar wind – magnetosphere interaction. The exchange programme involves a consortium of five research institutions – the University of Calabria (Italy) (Unical), the Österreichische Akademie der Wissenshaften (Austria) (IWF), the Space Research Institute (Russia) (IKI), the Tbilisi University (Georgia) (Tbilisi Univ), and the Saint Petersburg University (Russia) (SPBU) – which have a long research experience in various fields of space plasma physics. The programme will last 36 months, with planned start at the beginning of 2011.Understanding the interaction, heating, transport, and acceleration processes of the geospace plasmas is one of the main objectives of space plasma physics and of solar terrestrial physics. The specific objectives of this exchange programme are to investigate the dissipation processes in the magnetospheric and ionospheric environment like magnetic reconnection, turbulent heating and acceleration, turbulent transport, and the influence of shear flows on the development of turbulence, as described in the four work packages: 1. Magnetic reconnection; 2. Turbulent acceleration; 3. Shear flows; 4. Plasma transport and acceleration in planetary magnetospheres. This will be achieved by a coordinated theoretical, numerical, and experimental data analysis effort, to be carried out mostly during the exchange visits.All partners have adequate infrastructures, computing facilities and access to spacecraft data, to carry out the research programme. The partners are complementary as different partners specilized either in plasma theory, or data analysis, or numerical simulations, or model development.A total of 43 months of exchange are requested. The programme will be managed by the board of team leaders, a kick-off and a final workshop will be organized.