Three-dimensional simulations of solar wind turbulence with the hybrid code CAMELIA

Abstract: We investigate the spectral properties of plasma turbulence from fluid to sub-ion scales by means of high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulations performed with the hybrid particle-in-cell (HPIC) code CAMELIA. We produce extended turbulent spectra with well-defined power laws for the magnetic, ion bulk velocity, density, and electric fluctuations. The present results are in good agreement with previous two-dimensional (2D) HPIC simulations, especially in the kinetic range of scales, and reproduce several features observed in solar wind spectra. By providing scaling tests on many different architectures and convergence studies, we prove CAMELIA to represent a very efficient, accurate and reliable tool for investigating the develpoment of the turbulent cascade in the solar wind, being able to cover simultaneously several decades in wavenumber, also in 3D.