# Levi-Civita proofs for divergence of curls, etc

by theuserman
Tags: epsilon notation, levi-cevita
 P: 11 I've also posted this in the Physics forum as it applies to some physical aspects as well. --- I want to know if I'm on the right track here. I'm asked to prove the following. a) $$\nabla \cdot (\vec{A} \times \vec{B}) = \vec{B} \cdot (\nabla \times \vec{A}) - \vec{A} \cdot (\nabla \times \vec{B})$$ b) $$\nabla \times (f \vec{A}) = f(\nabla \times \vec{A}) - \vec{A} \times (\nabla f)$$ (where f is a scalar function) And want (read: need to, due to a professor's insistence) to prove these using Levi-Civita notation. I've used the following for reference: http://www.uoguelph.ca/~thopman/246/indicial.pdf and http://folk.uio.no/patricg/teaching/a112/levi-civita/ Here's my attempts - I need to see if I have this notation down correctly... a) $$\nabla \cdot (\vec{A} \times \vec{B})$$ = $$\partial_i \hat{u}_i \cdot \epsilon_{jkl} \vec{A}_j \vec{B}_k \hat{u}_l$$ = $$\partial_i \vec{A}_j \vec{B}_k \hat{u}_i \cdot \hat{u}_l \epsilon_{jkl}$$ Now I thought it'd be wise to use the identity that $$\hat{u}_i \cdot \hat{u}_l = \delta_{il}$$. = $$\partial_i \vec{A}_j \vec{B}_k \delta_{il} \epsilon_{jkl}$$ In which we make i = l (and the $$\delta_{il}$$ goes to 1). = $$\partial_i \vec{A}_j \vec{B}_k \epsilon_{jki}$$ Then using 'scalar derivative product rules' we get two terms. Now, here's where I get a little mixed up. I'm wondering if we rearrange the terms and then modify the epsilon to go in order the the terms. = $$\vec{B}_k \partial_i \vec{A}_j \epsilon_{kij} + \vec{A}_j \partial_i \vec{B}_k \epsilon_{jik}$$ Now since the first epsilon is 'even' it remains positive, the other epsilon is 'odd' so that term becomes negative and we end up with the required result. = $$\vec{B} (\nabla \times \vec{A}) - \vec{A} (\nabla \times \vec{B})$$ b) $$\nabla \times (f \vec{A})$$ (where f is a scalar function) = $$\partial_i f \vec{A}_j \hat{u}_k \epsilon_{ijk}$$ = $$f \partial_i \vec{A}_j \hat{u}_k \epsilon_{ijk}+ \vec{A}_j \partial_i f \hat{u}_k \epsilon_{jik}$$ Once again, the first epsilon is the positive ('even') while the other is negative ('odd'). = $$f (\nabla \times \vec{A}) - \vec{A}(\nabla f)$$ Man, my hands hurt from all that tex work :P Been awhile for me. Since my teacher refuses to tell me if this is the correct method (he's only willing to show the concepts, and while I can appreciate that I don't want my mark to go to hell), can anyone help me out?
 P: 11 Some new equations I need to prove and have no idea how to go about it... I'll show what I've attempted so far. a) $$\nabla (\vec{A} \cdot \vec{B}) = \vec{A} \times (\nabla \times \vec{B}) + \vec{B} \times (\nabla \times \vec{A}) + (\vec{A} \cdot \nabla)\vec{B} + (\vec{B} \cdot \nabla) \vec{A}$$ b) $$\nabla \times (\vec{A} \times \vec{B}) = (\vec{B} \cdot \nabla)\vec{A} - (\vec{A} \cdot \nabla)\vec{B} + \vec{A}(\nabla \cdot \vec{B}) - \vec{B}(\nabla \cdot \vec{A})$$ Attempts: a) $$\nabla (\vec{A} \cdot \vec{B})$$ = $$\delta_i (\vec{A}_j \hat{u}_j \cdot \vec{B}_k \hat{u}_k)$$ = $$\delta_i (\vec{A}_j \vec{B}_j)$$ = $$\vec{B}_j \delta_i \vec{A}_j + \vec{A}_j \delta_i \vec{B}_j$$ Now I'm thinking we do the other side of the equation and see if they add up?? 1st term : $$\vec{A} \times (\nabla \times \vec{B})$$ = $$\epsilon_{ijk} \vec{A}_j (\nabla \times \vec{B})_k$$ = $$\epsilon_{ijk} \vec{A}_j \epsilon_{klm} \nabla_l \vec{B}_m$$ = $$\epsilon_{kij} \epsilon_{klm} \vec{A}_j \nabla_l \vec{B}_m$$ = $$(\delta_{il} \delta_{jm} - \delta_{im} \delta_{jl}) \vec{A}_j \nabla_l \vec{B}_m$$ So we make i=l, j=m and for the other case i=m and j=l = $$\vec{A}_j \nabla_l \vec{B}_j - \vec{A}_l \nabla_l \vec{B}_m$$ = $$\vec{A}_j \partial_l \vec{B}_j - \vec{A}_l \partial_l \vec{B}_m$$ Which seems to resemble what I got when I did this normally... 2nd term : (I'm guessing we just switch the terms) $$\vec{B} \times (\nabla \times \vec{A})$$ = $$\vec{B}_j \partial_l \vec{A}_j - \vec{B}_l \partial_l \vec{A}_m$$ 3rd term: $$(\vec{A} \cdot \nabla)\vec{B}$$ = $$(\vec{A}_i \cdot \nabla_j)\vec{B}_k$$ = $$(\vec{A}_i \nabla_i) \vec{B}_k$$ = $$\vec{A}_i \nabla_i \vec{B}_k$$ 4th term: $$(\vec{B} \cdot \nabla)\vec{A}$$ = $$\vec{B}_i \nabla_i \vec{A}_k$$ Adding them all up gets us: $$\vec{A}_j \partial_l \vec{B}_j - \vec{A}_l \partial_l \vec{B}_m + \vec{B}_j \partial_l \vec{A}_j - \vec{B}_l \partial_l \vec{A}_m + \vec{A}_i \partial_i \vec{B}_k + \vec{B}_i \partial_i \vec{A}_k$$ Since most of these are dummy variables I can change them to... $$\vec{A}_j \partial_l \vec{B}_j - \vec{A}_l \partial_l \vec{B}_m + \vec{B}_j \partial_l \vec{A}_j - \vec{B}_l \partial_l \vec{A}_m + \vec{A}_l \partial_l \vec{B}_m + \vec{B}_l \partial_l \vec{A}_m$$ Which is $$\vec{B}_j \delta_i \vec{A}_j + \vec{A}_j \delta_i \vec{B}_j$$ !!! HAH! b) $$\nabla \times (\vec{A} \times \vec{B})$$ I'm pretty sure I have this down. = $$\partial_l \hat{u}_l \times (\vec{A}_i \vec{B}_j \hat{u}_k \epsilon_{ijk})$$ =$$\partial_l \vec{A}_i \vec{B}_j \epsilon_{ijk} (\hat{u}_l \times \hat{u}_k)$$ [$$(\hat{u}_l \times \hat{u}_k) = \hat{u}_m \epsilon_{lkm}$$] =$$\partial_l \vec{A}_i \vec{B}_j \hat{u}_m \epsilon_{ijk} \epsilon_{mlk}$$ =$$\partial_l \vec{A}_i \vec{B}_j \hat{u}_m (\delta_{im} \delta_{jl} - \delta_{il} \delta_{jm})$$ =$$\partial_j \vec{A}_i \vec{B}_j \hat{u}_i- \partial_i \vec{A}_i \vec{B}_j \hat{u}_j$$ Using scalar derivative scalar product rule: = $$\vec{A}_i \partial_j \vec{B}_j \hat{u}_i + \partial_j \vec{B}_j \vec{A}_i \hat{u}_i - (\vec{A}_i \partial_i \vec{B}_j \hat{u}_j + \vec{B}_j \vec{A}_i \partial_i \hat{u}_j)$$ = $$\vec{A}(\nabla \cdot \vec{B}) + (\vec{B} \cdot \nabla)\vec{A} - (\vec{A} \cdot \nabla)\vec{B} - \vec{B}(\nabla \cdot \vec{A})$$ Alright, so it took me 2 hours to type it but I managed to figure it out. Thanks anyway.
P: 4,513
 Quote by theuserman I've also posted this in the Physics forum as it applies to some physical aspects as well. --- I want to know if I'm on the right track here. I'm asked to prove the following. a) $$\nabla \cdot (\vec{A} \times \vec{B}) = \vec{B} \cdot (\nabla \times \vec{A}) - \vec{A} \cdot (\nabla \times \vec{B})$$ ... a) $$\nabla \cdot (\vec{A} \times \vec{B})$$ = $$\partial_i \hat{u}_i \cdot \epsilon_{jkl} \vec{A}_j \vec{B}_k \hat{u}_l$$ = $$\partial_i \vec{A}_j \vec{B}_k \hat{u}_i \cdot \hat{u}_l \epsilon_{jkl}$$ Now I thought it'd be wise to use the identity that $$\hat{u}_i \cdot \hat{u}_l = \delta_{il}$$.
I haven't got a lot of wherewithall at the moment to put a lot into this, but I can help a little with equation a)

a) $$\nabla \cdot (\vec{A} \times \vec{B}) = \partial_i \hat{u}_i \cdot \epsilon_{jki} \vec{A}_j \vec{B}_k \hat{u}_i$$

 Then using 'scalar derivative product rules' we get two terms. Now, here's where I get a little mixed up. I'm wondering if we rearrange the terms and then modify the epsilon to go in order the the terms. = $$\vec{B}_k \partial_i \vec{A}_j \epsilon_{kij} + \vec{A}_j \partial_i \vec{B}_k \epsilon_{jik}$$ Now since the first epsilon is 'even' it remains positive, the other epsilon is 'odd' so that term becomes negative and we end up with the required result. = $$\vec{B} (\nabla \times \vec{A}) - \vec{A} (\nabla \times \vec{B})$$
For my own work, when things get a little dicy, I define e.

$$\ \ e_{ijk} = 1$$ where i,j,k are odd (cyclic) permutations of (1,2,3) and otherwise the permutations are are 0.

$$\ e_{123} = e_{231} = e_{312} = 1$$

To make things a bit transparent, define $$\ \overline{e}$$

$$\ \overline{e}_{ijk} = -1$$ where i,j,k are odd permutations of (1,2,3) and otherwise are 0.

$$\ \overline{e}_{321} = \overline{e}_{213} = \overline{e}_{132} = -1$$

So you get

$$\epsilon_{ijk} = e_{ijk} + \overline{e}_{ijk}$$

P: 11

## Levi-Civita proofs for divergence of curls, etc

Phrak,
Thanks for the tip with $$\epsilon$$, as for your first suggestion it makes sense to make it i... Since it is a dummy variable.

Thanks.
 P: 11 Just completeness, I'm going to prove that: $$\nabla \times (\nabla \times \vec{v}) = \nabla(\nabla \cdot \vec{v}) - \nabla^2\vec{v}$$ So we have $$\nabla \times (\nabla \times \vec{v})$$ $$= \partial_i(\nabla \times \vec{v})_j \epsilon_{ijk}$$ $$= \partial_i(\partial_l v_m \epsilon_{jlm})_j \epsilon_{ijk}$$ $$=\partial_i \partial_l v_m \epsilon_{jlm} \epsilon_{ijk}$$ $$= \partial_i \partial_l v_m (\delta_{lk}\delta_{mi} - \delta_{li}\delta_{mk})$$ $$= \delta_{lk}\delta_{mi} \partial_i \partial_l v_m - \delta_{li}\delta_{mk}\partial_i \partial_l v_m$$ $$= \partial_m \partial_l v_m - \partial_i \partial_i v_m$$ $$= \partial_l \partial_m v_m - \partial_i^2 v_m$$ $$= \nabla(\nabla \cdot \vec{v}) - \nabla^2 \vec{v}$$ Viola.
P: 651
 Quote by theuserman Just completeness, I'm going to prove that: $$\nabla \times (\nabla \times \vec{v}) = \nabla(\nabla \cdot \vec{v}) - \nabla^2\vec{v}$$ So we have $$\nabla \times (\nabla \times \vec{v})$$ $$= \partial_i(\nabla \times \vec{v})_j \epsilon_{ijk}$$ $$= \partial_i(\partial_l v_m \epsilon_{jlm})_j \epsilon_{ijk}$$ $$=\partial_i \partial_l v_m \epsilon_{jlm} \epsilon_{ijk}$$ $$= \partial_i \partial_l v_m (\delta_{lk}\delta_{mi} - \delta_{li}\delta_{mk})$$ $$= \delta_{lk}\delta_{mi} \partial_i \partial_l v_m - \delta_{li}\delta_{mk}\partial_i \partial_l v_m$$ $$= \partial_m \partial_l v_m - \partial_i \partial_i v_m$$ $$= \partial_l \partial_m v_m - \partial_i^2 v_m$$ $$= \nabla(\nabla \cdot \vec{v}) - \nabla^2 \vec{v}$$ Viola.
i am wondering, why it is such from the last 4th step onwards

going from the last 4th to last 3rd step, why does the variables become as such? how exactly does one compute the kronecker delta here?

also on the last step, del(del.v)
does it mean that the del(del is a multiplication? it is neither cross nor dot product? so i should treat it as a scalar multiplication?

also, del del v are all vectors right? so a dot product gives a number, and the outter del is just a scalar multiplcation?

also, when we take cross product , say AXB
where [AXB]i = EijkAjBk
when we say the i-th component is as such, does it mean the unit vector i, which is the x-plane, or is i just a dummy variable?
also what does it mean by the i-th component? does it mean theres also a j and k? and when we sum them up we get the vector [AXB] ?

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