On an identity for the volume integral of the square of a vector field

Stewart, A. M.

Cultural advice

The Australian National University acknowledges, celebrates and pays our respects to the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people of the Canberra region and to all First Nations Australians on whose traditional lands we meet and work, and whose cultures are among the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that ANU Library collections may include images, names, voices, and other representations of deceased persons.

Material in the collection may contain terms, language or views that reflect the period in which the item was created and may be considered inappropriate today.

On an identity for the volume integral of the square of a vector field

Date

2007-05-15

Authors

Stewart, A. M.

Publisher

American Association of Physics Teachers

Abstract

A proof is given of the vector identity proposed by Gubarev, Stodolsky and Zakarov that relates the volume integral of the square of a 3-vector field to non-local integrals of the curl and divergence of the field. The identity is applied to the case of the magnetic vector potential and magnetic field of a rotating charged shell. The latter provides a straightforward exercise in the use of the addition theorem of spherical harmonics.