Abstract
Turbulence and kinetic processes in magnetized space plasmas have been
extensively investigated over the past decades via in-situ spacecraft
measurements, theoretical models and numerical simulations. In particular,
multi-point high-resolution measurements from the Cluster and MMS
space missions brought to light an entire new world of processes, taking place
at the plasma kinetic scales, and exposed new challenges for their theoretical
interpretation. A long-lasting debate concerns the nature of ion and electron
scale fluctuations in solar-wind turbulence and their dissipation via
collisionless plasma mechanisms. Alongside observations, numerical simulations
have always played a central role in providing a test ground for existing
theories and models. In this Perspective, we discuss the advances achieved with
our 3D3V (reduced and fully) kinetic simulations, as well as the main questions
left open (or raised) by these studies. To this end, we combine data from our
recent kinetic simulations of both freely decaying and continuously driven
fluctuations to assess the similarities and/or differences in the properties of
plasma turbulence in the sub-ion range. Finally, we discuss possible future
directions in the field and highlight the need to combine different types of
numerical and observational approaches to improve the understanding of
turbulent space plasmas.
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