Sgr A* near-infrared flares from reconnection events in a magnetically
  arrested disc
  Large-amplitude Sgr A* near-infrared flares result from energy injection into
electrons near the black hole event horizon. Astrometry data show continuous
rotation of the emission region during bright flares, and corresponding
rotation of the linear polarization angle. One broad class of physical flare
models invokes magnetic reconnection. Here we show that such a scenario can
arise in a general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulation of a
magnetically arrested disc. Saturation of magnetic flux triggers eruption
events, where magnetically dominated plasma is expelled from near the horizon
and forms a rotating, spiral structure. Dissipation occurs via reconnection at
the interface of the magnetically dominated plasma and surrounding fluid. This
dissipation is associated with large increases in near-infrared emission in
models of Sgr A*, with durations and amplitudes consistent with the observed
flares. Such events occur at roughly the timescale to re-accumulate the
magnetic flux from the inner accretion disc, 10h for Sgr A*. We study
near-infrared observables from one sample event to show that the emission
morphology tracks the boundary of the magnetically dominated region. As the
region rotates around the black hole, the near-infrared centroid and linear
polarization angle both undergo continuous rotation, similar to the behavior
seen in Sgr A* flares.
