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pythonpython-3.xmatplotlibheatmappolar-coordinates

Polar heatmaps in python


I want to plot a paraboloid f(r) = r**2 as a 2D polar heatmap. The output I expect is enter image description here

The code that I have written is

from pylab import*
from mpl_toolkits.mplot3d import Axes3D
ax = Axes3D(figure())
rad=linspace(0,5,100)
azm=linspace(0,2*pi,100)
r,th=meshgrid(rad,azm)
z=(r**2.0)/4.0
subplot(projection="polar")
pcolormesh(r,th, z)
show()

But this program returns the following image. enter image description here

Can someone help? Thank you in advance.


Solution


  • [edit] thanks to Александр Рахмаев

    Since version 3.3.3, the shading=flat (in pcolormesh by default) approach will give an error for the current data. I am using shanding=closest. Then there will be no error. Example: plt.pcolormesh(th, r, z, shading='nearest') See this also


    I think you inadvertently mixed up radius, zenith and azimuth :)

    This plots what I think you want:

    import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
    from mpl_toolkits.mplot3d import Axes3D
    import numpy as np
    
    fig = plt.figure()
    ax = Axes3D(fig)
    
    rad = np.linspace(0, 5, 100)
    azm = np.linspace(0, 2 * np.pi, 100)
    r, th = np.meshgrid(rad, azm)
    z = (r ** 2.0) / 4.0
    
    plt.subplot(projection="polar")
    
    plt.pcolormesh(th, r, z)
    #plt.pcolormesh(th, z, r)
    
    plt.plot(azm, r, color='k', ls='none') 
    plt.grid()
    
    plt.show()
    

    enter image description here

    If you want ray grid lines, you can add them every Theta as follows:

    plt.thetagrids([theta * 15 for theta in range(360//15)])
    

    enter image description here

    and more radial grids like this:

    plt.rgrids([.3 * _ for _ in range(1, 17)])
    

    enter image description here

    PS: numpy and pyplot will keep your namespace tidy...