A new implementation of the Schwarzschild method for constructing observationally-driven dynamical models of galaxies of all morphological types

Abstract

We present Forstand, a new code for constructing dynamical models of galaxies with the Schwarzschild orbit-superposition method. These models are constrained by line-of-sight kinematic observations and applicable to galaxies of all morphological types, including disks and triaxial rotating bars. Our implementation has several novel and improved features, is computationally efficient, and made publicly available. Using mock datasets taken from N-body simulations, we demonstrate that the pattern speed of a bar can be recovered with an accuracy of 10-20%, regardless of orientation, if the 3D shape of the galaxy is known or inferred correctly.