STORM · Solar system plasma Turbulence: Observations, inteRmittency and Multifractals

In this project we investigate solar system plasma turbulence from in-situ data gathered by automated platforms launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA. We investigate how the features of turbulence and intermittency vary with the solar activity and estimate the corresponding impact. We use electromagnetic field and plasma data provided by a core of three ESA spacecraft, Ulysses, Venus Express and the Cluster quartet, in coherence with data from other missions like ESA's Giotto and Rosetta, NASA's THEMIS, Cassini and Mars Global Surveyor. Complementary to the satellite databases we study the fluctuations of the geomagnetic field observed on ground. A package of advanced nonlinear analysis methods will be applied on the selected data sets. Power Spectral Densities (PSD) and Probability Distribution Functions (PDF) will be computed first. In a next step we apply five higher-order methods of analysis: (i) the partition function multifractal analysis, (ii) the Rank Ordered Multifractal analysis, (iii) the wave telescope, (iv) the multi-spacecraft methods for anisotropy (v) the discriminating statistics. The targeted physical processes are: the turbulent transfer of energy and dissipation, the intermittency and multifractals, the anisotropy, and non-linearity of the solar system plasma turbulence. The Consortium includes European experts with valuable achievements in space plasma turbulenceand complexity, as well as in satellite data analysis. The members of the Consortium are principal or co-investigators of several experiments on-board the selected missions. Two American experts agreed to collaborate and will increase the links with major space actors like the USA. The project responds to the Objectives of the Call by its international, multi-disciplinary dimension, the large number of targeted space missions and databases and the associated analysis methods, and the ambitious scientific objectives that are expected to have a significant impact.