Helmholtz Decomposition

Helmholtz decomposition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In physics and mathematics, in the area of vector calculus, Helmholtz's
theorem,[1][2] also known as the fundamental theorem of vector
calculus,[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] states that any sufficiently smooth, rapidly decaying vector field in
three dimensions can be resolved into the sum of an irrotational (curl-free) vector field
and a solenoidal (divergence-free) vector field; this is known as the Helmholtz
decomposition. It is named after Hermann von Helmholtz.[10]
This implies that any such vector field F can be considered to be generated by a pair of
potentials: a scalar potential φ and a vector potential A.
Contents
[hide]
 1 Statement of the theorem

 2 Derivation
o 2.1 Another derivation from the Fourier transform
 3 Fields with prescribed divergence and curl
 4 Differential forms
 5 Weak formulation
 6 Longitudinal and transverse fields
 7 See also
 8 Notes
 9 References
o 9.1 General references
o 9.2 References for the weak formulation
 10 External links
Statement of the theorem[edit]

Let F be a vector field on a bounded domain V in R3, which is twice continuously
differentiable, and let S be the surface that encloses the domain V. Then F can be
decomposed into a curl-free component and a divergence-free component:[11]
where
If V is R3 itself (unbounded), and F vanishes faster than as ,

then the second component of both scalar and vector potential are zero.
That is,[12]
Derivation[edit]
Suppose we have a vector function of which we know the curl, and the
divergence, , in the domain and the fields on the boundary. Writing the function
using delta function in the form
Using the identity
We get,
Noting that, we can rewrite the

last expression as
Then using the vectorial identities
and
we get
Take advantage of the divergence theorem, the
equation can be rewritten as
Define
Hence
Another derivation from the Fourier transform[edit]

Write F as a Fourier transform :
The Fourier transform of a scalar field is a scalar field, and the Fourier transform of a
vector field is a vector field of same dimension.
Now consider the following scalar and vector fields :
Hence
Fields with prescribed divergence and
curl[edit]
The term "Helmholtz Theorem" can also refer to the following. Let C be
a solenoidal vector field and d a scalar field on R3 which are sufficiently
smooth and which vanish faster than 1/r2 at infinity. Then there exists a
vector field F such that
and
if additionally the vector field F vanishes as r → ∞, then F is

unique.[12]
In other words, a vector field can be constructed with both a

specified divergence and a specified curl, and if it also vanishes at
infinity, it is uniquely specified by its divergence and curl. This
theorem is of great importance in electrostatics, since Maxwell's
equations for the electric and magnetic fields in the static case are of
exactly this type.[12] The proof is by a construction generalizing the
one given above: we set
where represents the Newtonian potential operator. (When

acting on a vector field, such as ∇ × F, it is defined to act on
each component.)
Weak formulation[edit]
The Helmholtz decomposition can also be generalized by reducing the regularity
assumptions (the need for the existence of strong derivatives). Suppose Ω is a bounded,
simply-connected, Lipschitz domain. Every square-integrable vector field u ∈ (L2(Ω))3 has
an orthogonal decomposition:
where is in the Sobolev space H1(Ω) of square-integrable functions on Ω whose

partial derivatives defined in the distribution sense are square integrable,
and A ∈ H(curl,Ω), the Sobolev space of vector fields consisting of square integrable
vector fields with square integrable curl.
For a slightly smoother vector field u ∈ H(curl,Ω), a similar decomposition holds:
where ∈ H1(Ω) and v ∈ (H1(Ω))d.

Longitudinal and transverse fields[edit]
A terminology often used in physics refers to the curl-free component of a vector
field as the longitudinal component and the divergence-free component as
the transverse component.[14] This terminology comes from the following
construction: Compute the three-dimensional Fourier transform of the vector
field F. Then decompose this field, at each point k, into two components, one of
which points longitudinally, i.e. parallel to k, the other of which points in the
transverse direction, i.e. perpendicular to k. So far, we have
Now we apply an inverse Fourier transform to each of these

components. Using properties of Fourier transforms, we derive:
Since and ,
we can get
so this is indeed the Helmholtz

decomposition.[15]

Helmholtz Decomposition

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Helmholtz decomposition

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 1 Statement of the theorem

Statement of the theorem[edit]

If V is R3 itself (unbounded), and F vanishes faster than as ,

Using the identity

Noting that, we can rewrite the

Then using the vectorial identities

Another derivation from the Fourier transform[edit]

Now consider the following scalar and vector fields :

if additionally the vector field F vanishes as r → ∞, then F is

In other words, a vector field can be constructed with both a

where represents the Newtonian potential operator. (When

where is in the Sobolev space H1(Ω) of square-integrable functions on Ω whose

For a slightly smoother vector field u ∈ H(curl,Ω), a similar decomposition holds:

where ∈ H1(Ω) and v ∈ (H1(Ω))d.

Now we apply an inverse Fourier transform to each of these

so this is indeed the Helmholtz

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