- 1Laboratory of Physics and Chemistry of the Environment and Space, Orléans, France (giulia.cozzani@cnrs-orleans.fr)
- 2Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA
- 3Department of Mathematics, Physics, and Electrical Engineering, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- *A full list of authors appears at the end of the abstract
Plasma Observatory (PO) is one of the three candidate ESA M7-class missions currently in Phase A. Its primary goal is to investigate the fundamental multi-scale processes that govern plasma energization and energy transport within Earth's magnetospheric system. To address these objectives, PO will deploy a constellation of seven spacecraft in a double-nested tetrahedral configuration with a common vertex, enabling simultaneous measurements at both fluid and ion scales and, crucially, their coupling.
Compared to previous multi-spacecraft missions such as Cluster and MMS, PO's expanded constellation introduces unprecedented opportunities to resolve multi-scale dynamics in space plasmas. However, these opportunities come with significant challenges. Realizing PO's full scientific potential requires the development and application of novel multi-point and advanced data analysis methodologies capable of exploiting measurements from more than four spacecraft.
The Multi-Point and Advanced Data Analysis Methods Working Group has been established to support the mission's Science Study Team (SST) in evaluating how PO's science goals can be achieved through its unique configuration. The Working Group brings together expertise in multi-spacecraft diagnostics and the analysis of in situ plasma observations. We present the composition and ongoing activities of the Working Group, highlight the represented analysis methods (both established and under active development), and outline ongoing efforts to assess and enhance the scientific capabilities of the PO mission.
M. Alho (U. of Helsinki, FI); S. Alqeeq (LPP, FR); R. Allen (SwRI, USA); M. Argall (UNH, USA); M. Chakraborty (LPC2E, FR); G. Consolini (INAF, IT); M. Chakraborty (LPC2E, FR); S. Dahani (U. of Helsinki, FI); M. Dunlop (RAL Space, STFC, UK); J. Egedal (Madison U., USA); S. Eriksson (LASP, USA); N. Fargette (IRAP, FR); K. Genestreti (SwRI, USA); H. George (IRFU, SE); V. Génot (IRAP, FR); D. Graham (IRFU, SE); M. Grzesiak (PAN, PO); H. Hasegawa (JAXA, JP); K. Kieokaew (IRAP, FR); K. Klein (U. Arizona, USA); A. Lalti (Nortumbria U., UK); A. Larosa (ISTP/CNR, IT); S. Lautenbach (Ruhr U. Bochum, DE); D. Manzini (QMUL, UK); R. Marino (EC Lyon, FR); F. Pecora (U. Delaware, USA); D. Przepiórka-Skup (PAN, PO); S. Raptis (APL, USA); L. Richard (IRFU, SE); O. Roberts (Aberystwyth U., UK); S. Roy (ÖEW, AT); S. Servidio (U. Calabria, IT); L. Schulz (Braunschweig, DE); J. Shuster (UNH, USA); I. Svenningsson (Chalmers, SE); Z. Wang (Beihang U., CN); C. Waters (QMUL, UK); Y. Yang (U. Delaware, USA); Y. Zhou (HIT, CN)
How to cite: Cozzani, G., Chasapis, A., and Stawarz, J. and the The Plasma Observatory Multi-Point Working Group Members and Contributors: Plasma Observatory's Multi-Point and Advanced Data Analysis Methods Working Group, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-2371, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-2371, 2026.