DUAL SMALL SATELLITES FOR CURRENT-DRIVEN PLASMA INSTABILITY INVESTIGATION

Energy conversion from electromagnetic energy to particle energy or vice versa is a fundamental problem related to impulsive energetic phenomena. One well-studied plasma instability in energy conversion is a current-driven instability that generates current disruption at substorm onset. There is much evidence that this instability is the physical process that initiates substorm disturbance. In this presentation, we propose a mission of dual small satellites aimed to focus on extracting the physical condition for the onset threshold of this instability. Experience from previous satellite missions provides the guide to establish well-defined orbits to investigate the evolution of current density at current disruption sites. This will be demonstrated by fortuitous observations from previous satellite missions. Planned orbit and required payloads for the mission will be discussed.