Helmholtz Theorem

EE 141 Lecture Notes Topic 3 Professor K. E. Oughstun

School of Engineering College of Engineering & Mathematical Sciences University of Vermont

2012

Motivation

Helmholtz Theorem
Because 2 1 R = 4 (R) (1)

where R = r r with magnitude R = |R| and where ( R) = ( r r ) = ( x x ) ( y y ) ( z z ) is the three-dimensional Dirac delta function, then any suciently well-behaved vector function F(r) = F(x , y , z ) can be represented as F(r ) =
V

F(r ) (r r ) d 3 r = F(r ) 3 d r, R

1 4

F ( r ) 2
V

1 R

d 3r (2)

1 = 2 4

the integration extending over any region V that contains the point r.

Helmholtz Theorem
With the identity = 2 , Eq. (2) may be written as F(r ) = 1 4 1 F(r ) 3 d r R 4 F(r ) 3 d r. R (3)

Consider rst the divergence term appearing in this expression. Because the vector dierential operator does not operate on the primed coordinates, then 1 4 F(r ) 3 1 d r = R 4 F(r )
V

1 R

d 3r .

(4)

Helmholtz Theorem
The integrand appearing in this expression may be expressed as F(r ) 1 R = F(r ) = F(r ) R 1 R + 1 F(r ), R (5)

where the prime on denotes dierentiation with respect to the primed coordinates alone, viz. y + 1 z x + 1 = 1 x y z = 1 j , j = x , y , z . where 1 j

Helmholtz Theorem
Substitution of Eq. (5) into Eq. (4) and application of the divergence theorem to the rst term then yields 1 4 1 F(r ) 3 d r = R 4
V

F(r ) R +

d 3r 1 4 F ( r ) 3 d r R

1 = 4

1 F(r ) n d 2 r R 1 + 4

= (r ),

F ( r ) 3 d r R (6)

which is the desired form of the scalar potential (r) for the vector eld F(r). Here S is the surface that encloses the regular region V containing the point r.

Helmholtz Theorem
For the curl term appearing in Eq. (3) one has that 1 4 F(r ) 3 1 1 F(r ) d 3r d r = R 4 V R 1 1 F ( r ) d 3r . = 4 V R

(7)

Moreover, the integrand appearing in the nal form of the integral in Eq. (7) may be expressed as F ( r ) so that 1 R = F ( r ) R F(r ) R , (8)

Helmholtz Theorem

1 4

F(r ) 3 d r = R

F ( r ) 3 d r R V F(r ) 1 d 3r 4 V R 1 F ( r ) 3 = d r 4 V R 1 1 + F(r ) n d 2 r 4 S R = a(r), (9)

1 4

which is the desired form of the vector potential.

Helmholtz Theorem

Equations (3), (6), and (9) then show that F(r) = (r) + a(r) (10)

where the scalar potential (r) is given by Eq. (6) and the vector potential a(r) by Eq. (9). This expression may also be written as F(r ) = F (r ) + Ft (r ) known as the Helmholtz decomposition. (11)

Helmholtz Theorem
In the Helmholtz decomposition, F (r) = (r) F ( r ) 3 1 1 d r + = 4 4 V |r r | F(r ) nd 2 r |r r | (12)

is the longitudinal or irrotational part of the vector eld (with F (r ) = 0), and Ft (r) = a(r) = = 1 4 1 F(r ) 3 d r 4 V |r r | 1 F ( r ) 3 F(r ) d r + nd 2 r | |r r | 4 | r r S (13)

is the transverse or solenoidal part of the vector eld (with Ft (r ) = 0).

Helmholtz Theorem
If the surface S recedes to innity and if the vector eld F(r) is regular at innity, then the surface integrals appearing in Eqs. (12)(13) become F (r) = (r) F ( r ) 3 1 d r, = 4 V |r r | Ft (r) = a(r) 1 F ( r ) 3 d r. = 4 |r r | V

(14)

(15)

Taken together, the above results constitute what is known as Helmholtz theorem or the Fundamental Theorem of Vector Calculus.

Helmholtz Theorem
Theorem Helmholtz Theorem. Let F(r) be any continuous vector eld with continuous rst partial derivatives. Then F(r) can be uniquely expressed in terms of the negative gradient of a scalar potential (r) & the curl of a vector potential a(r), as embodied in Eqs. (10)(11).

Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz (18211894)