Entropy and Dissipation in Non-Collisional Space Plasmas
A special issue of Entropy (ISSN 1099-4300). This special issue belongs to the section "Astrophysics, Cosmology, and Black Holes".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 24
Special Issue Editors
Interests: complexity and turbulence in space plasmas; dynamical systems and information theory approaches to Sun-Earth relationships and Earth’s magnetospheric dynamics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: solar physics; interplanetary physics; cosmic rays; complexity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Space plasmas, unlike conventional collisional fluids, can be dilute, magnetized, and characterized by weak collisionality. These conditions make their behavior fundamentally different from that of more familiar fluids. The dynamics of such systems, where kinetic and thermodynamic processes function differently, cannot be adequately described by conventional collisional theories. In non-collisional environments, alongside solar wind, planetary magnetospheres, and astrophysical plasmas, energy dissipation and entropy generation arise through mechanisms that are still not fully understood. Key processes include wave–particle interactions, turbulence, kinetic instabilities, and the formation of coherent structures. Understanding how these mechanisms lead to irreversible dynamics and entropy production in a collisionless context is a fundamental challenge in plasma physics and space science.
We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue of Entropy, which aims to address the fundamental processes that govern entropy generation and energy dissipation in non-collisional space plasmas. We welcome contributions that explore both the theoretical foundations and the observational or simulation-based aspects of these processes. In line with the scope of the Entropy journal, this Special Issue aims to enhance our understanding of entropy-related phenomena in plasmas in far-from-equilibrium spaces. By examining how entropy can be meaningfully defined, measured, and interpreted in this context, the present collection of articles will contribute to a broader discussion concerning non-equilibrium thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and complex systems as they apply to space plasmas.
Researchers are encouraged to submit original research articles, reviews, and methodological papers that expand our understanding of entropy and dissipation in non-collisional space plasmas. The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:
- Entropy and dissipation in space plasmas at kinetic scales and beyond;
- Turbulent cascade and dissipation mechanisms;
- Entropy production in shock waves and magnetic reconnection regions;
- Phase-space dynamics and energy transfer processes;
- Role of non-Maxwellian particle distributions;
- Interplay between turbulence, coherent structures, and non-equilibrium dynamics.
The Special Issue welcomes submissions that push the boundaries of current models and propose novel approaches to understanding entropy and dissipation in space plasmas.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Giuseppe Consolini
Dr. Simone Benella
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Entropy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- non-collisional space plasmas
- entropy
- dissipation
- turbulence
- complexity
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