In order to reach the new horizon of the space physics research, the Plasma Universe, via in-situ measurements in the Earth's magnetosphere, SCOPE will perform formation flying observations combined with high-time resolution electron measurements. The simultaneous multi-scale observations by SCOPE of various plasma dynamical phenomena will enable data-based study of the key space plasma processes from the cross-scale coupling point of view. Key physical processes to be studied are magnetic reconnection under various boundary conditions, shocks in space plasma, collisionless plasma mixing at the boundaries, and physics of current sheets embedded in complex magnetic geometries. The SCOPE formation is made up of 5 spacecraft and is put into the equatorial orbit with the apogee at 30Re (Re: earth radius). One of the spacecraft is a large mother ship which is equipped with a full suite of particle detectors including ultra-high time resolution electron detector. Among other 4 small spacecraft, one remains near (~10km) the mother ship and the spacecraft-pair will focus on the electron-scale physics. Others at the distance of 100~3000km (electron ~ ion spatial scales) from the mother ship will monitor plasma dynamics surrounding the mother-daughter pair. There is lively ongoing discussion on Japan-Europe international collaboration (ESA's Cross-Scale), which would certainly make better the coverage over the scales of interest and thus make the success of the mission, i.e., clarifying the multi-scale nature of the Plasma Universe, to be attained at an even higher level. THE SCIENCE OF THE SCOPE MISSION Magnetosphere as a Typical Piece of the Plasma Universe Large fraction of the Universe is filled by gas in plasma state. This implies that magnetic field would be playing significant roles in the gas dynamics of the Universe. There indeed are growing interests in the magnetic effects in astrophysical situations such as accretion disks. The Plasma Universe can be characterized by highenergy, large scale dynamic phenomena, and it is these active features mediated by the effects of the magnetic field that keep us fascinated. The Earth's magnetosphere can be regarded a typical piece of the Plasma Universe. The region is formed by the interaction between the solar wind and the planet's intrinsic magnetic field. Since the solar wind is super sonic, the bow shock is formed in the front side of the magnetosphere. The boundary that separates the shocked solar wind from the region occupied by the Earth's magnetic field (magnetosphere) is a velocity shear layer, a current layer, as well as a density gradient layer. That is, the boundary contains various source of free energy and is full of potential to behave dynamically. In the night side of the magnetosphere, the field lines are highly stretched along the sun-earth direction to form a current sheet across which the magnetic polarity reverses. The anti-parallel field lines are often subject to magnetic reconnection via which energy stored as the magnetic energy is released explosive...
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