The role of electron heating physics in images and variability of the Galactic Centre black hole Sagittarius A*

Understand

The accretion flow around the Galactic Center black hole Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) is expected to have an electron temperature that is distinct from the ion temperature, due to weak Coulomb coupling in the low-density plasma.

• We present four two-temperature general relativistic radiative magnetohydrodynamic (GRRMHD) simulations of Sgr A* performed with the code KORAL.
• These simulations use different electron heating prescriptions, motivated by different models of the underlying plasma microphysics.
• We compare the Landau-damped turbulent cascade model used in previous work with a new prescription we introduce based on the results of particle-in-cell simulations of magnetic reconnection.