Microphysics of Cosmic Plasmas: Background, Motivation and Objectives

International audienceWith the maturing of space plasma research in the solar system, a more general approach to plasma physics in general, applied to cosmic plasmas, has become appropriate. There are both similarities and important differences in describing the phenomenology of space plasmas on scales from the Earth's magnetosphere to galactic and inter-galactic scales. However, there are important aspects in common, related to the microphysics of plasma processes. This introduction to a coordinated collection of papers that address the several aspects of the microphysics of cosmic plasmas that have unifying themes sets out the scope and ambition of the broad sweep of topics covered in the volume, together with an enumeration of the detailed objectives of the coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Space Science Reviews is the property of Springer Science & Business Media B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.