Description
Electron-kinetic processes are the final, crucial step in the dissipation of the highly complex turbulent plasma dynamics that are prolific in all space and astrophysical plasmas across the Universe. However, due to the nearly-collisionless nature of many space environments, a variety of distinct plasma processes can contribute to energising and regulating the thermodynamics of the electrons. The Distributed Receivers for Electron Astrophysics Measurements (DREAM) mission is an electron-astrophysics mission concept aimed at measuring the thermal properties, heating, and crucially energy exchange processes for electrons in interplanetary space. DREAM would employ a swarm of up to 11 CubeSats orbiting within a few kilometres of each other to form a distributed electron instrument in space. This distributed instrument would both be capable of characterising the 3D electromagnetic fluctuations present at electron-scales in the plasma and, using a novel electron sensor, provide fast and sensitive measurements of the field-particle correlation between the electrons and electromagnetic fields in phase space on-board the spacecraft. The novel measurements from DREAM will be highly complementary to the new multiscale plasma missions, such as HelioSwarm and Plasma Observatory, that are on the horizon; with DREAM providing the targeted electron-scale measurements necessary to disentangle the complex processes responsible for controling the thermodynamics and energising electrons in the nearly-collisionless regime.
