We use Schwarzschild's orbit-superposition technique to construct self-consistent models of the Galactic bar. Using χ2 minimisation, we find that the best-fit Galactic bar model has a pattern speed Ωp=60kms−1kpc−1, disk mass Md=1.0×1011M⊙ and bar angle θbar=20∘ for an adopted bar mass Mbar=2×1010M⊙. The model can reproduce not only the three-dimensional and projected density distributions but also velocity and velocity dispersion data from the BRAVA survey. We also predict the proper motions in the range l=[−12∘,12∘], b=[−10∘,10∘], which appear to be higher than observations in the longitudinal direction. The model is stable within a timescale of 0.5 Gyr, but appears to deviate from steady-state on longer timescales. Our model can be further tested by future observations such as those from GAIA.
@article{arxiv.1209.0963,
title = {A New Model for the Milky Way Bar},
author = {Yougang Wang and Hongsheng Zhao and Shude Mao and R. M. Rich},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1209.0963},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
16 pages, 21 figures, 5 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS