Multi-scale Structure Formation and Dynamics in Cosmic Plasmas

The Space Science Review Journal is composed from the reviews from a workshop titled 'Multi-scale structure formation and dynamics in cosmic plasmas' which was held at International Space Science Institute in April 2013. It contains review papers on the basic processes of structure formation in cosmic plasmas starting from electric currents, which produce magnetic structures in planet magnetospheres, stellar winds, and relativistic plasma outflows like pulsar wind nebulae and Active Galactic Nuclei jets. The important role of the helicity concept on the structure formation and evolution of the large scale magnetic fields in highly conductive cosmic plasmas is emphasized in the book. Cosmological aspects of plasma structures are reviewed within a discussion of large-scale structure formation from the first non-linear objects to massive galaxy clusters, which is followed by a review of observations and current models of structures and components in galaxy clusters. The properties of magnetic field fluctuations and structures in the outer solar atmosphere and Earth?s magneto-tail, which have direct implications for the general problem of structure formation in hot plasmas, are discussed in depth.