pymcfost is a python package that provides an interface to the 3D radiative transfer code mcfost.

pymcfost offers (or will offer) the following functionalities:

• set up continuum and line models
• read a single model or library of models
• plot basic quantities, e.g. density structures, temperature maps
• plot observables : SEDs, image (with convolution), polarisation maps, visibilities, channels maps (with spatial and spectral convolution), moment maps.
• convert units, e.g. W.m-2 to Jy or brightness temperature
• provides an interface to the ALMA CASA simulator
• consistent interface with the casa python package to compare observations with models (ask C. Pinte)
• (TBD) read and plot dust models
• (TBD) direct interface to the Mie, DHS and aggregates dust properties calculations
• (TBD) direct interface to the ML chemical predictions
• (TBD) direct interface to the Voronoi mesh interface (available via fits files only so far)
• (TBD) consistent interface with PLONK (Phantom/splash python interface)

pymcfost was born as an attempt to port in python the functions that were available in the yorick-mcfost code. The goal is to provide a simple and light interface to explore a single (or a few) model(s).

The fitting routines of the yorick interface are yet to be ported into pymcfost. An alternative python distribution is available at https://github.com/cpinte/mcfost-python . It is more tailored towards handling large grid of models and model fitting.

git clone https://github.com/cpinte/pymcfost.git
cd pymcfost
python3 setup.py install

If you don't have the sudo rights, use python3 setup.py install --user.

• python >= 3.6 vs python 2.x
• only parameter file >= 3.0
• handles parameter files with mutiple zones, dust population, molecules, stars, etc. Parameter files are stored in objects rather than dicts, allowing more flexibility.
• does not and will not handle observational data, only models