Laplacian Definition and 138 Threads

  1. M

    Why Is the Index Shifted in Laplacian Eigenvalues?

    hi pf! I am reading a text and am stuck at a part. this is what is being said: If ##g## is a graph we have ##L(g) + L(\bar{g}) = nI - J## where ##J## is the matrix of ones. Let ##f^1,...f^n## be an orthogonal system of eigenvectors to ##L(g) : f^1 = \mathbb{1}## and ##L(g)f^i = \lambda_i...
  2. N

    Why Does the Laplacian of 1/Vector r Equal Zero?

    Homework Statement Show that \nabla^{2}\left(\frac{1}{\overrightarrow{r}}\right)=0Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution Let \nabla=\hat{i}\frac{\partial}{\partial x}+\hat{j}\frac{\partial}{\partial y}+\hat{k}\frac{\partial}{\partial z} and \overrightarrow{r}=x\hat{i}+y\hat{j}+z\hat{k}...
  3. S

    Laplacian of a vector function

    Problem: The vector function A(r) is defined in spherical polar coordinates by A = (1/r) er Evaluate ∇2A in spherical polar coordinates Relevant equation: I'm assuming I have to use the equation 1671 on this website But I haven't got a clue as to how I would apply it since, for example, I...
  4. S

    Does the Generalised Laplacian satisfy a certain relation?

    Hi, I was wondering if the following relation holds: $$ \frac{1}{r^{D-1}} \frac{\partial}{\partial r} \left( r^{D-1} \frac{\partial}{\partial r} \right) \psi = \frac{1}{r^{\frac{D-1}{2}}} \frac{\partial ^2}{\partial r^2} \left( r^{\frac{D-1}{2}} \right) \psi $$ I've seen that the LHS evaluates...
  5. K

    Poisson Summation in Heat Equation (Polar Coordinates)

    Homework Statement I'm currently trying to follow a derivation done by Shankar in his "Basic Training in Mathematics" textbook. The derivation is on pages 343-344 and it is based on the solution to the two dimensional heat equation in polar coordinates, and I'm not sure how he gets from one...
  6. H

    Laplacian term in Navier-Stokes equation

    I am trying to derive part of the navier-stokes equations. Consider the following link: http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~cdp/Desktop/Navier-Stokes%20Eqn.pdf Equation 1, without the lambda term, is given in vector form in Equation 3 as \eta\nabla^2\mathbf{u}. However, when I try to get this from...
  7. C

    How is the Laplacian Applied to Retarded Potential?

    Homework Statement See attachment. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I'm not understanding how the laplacian is creating those 3 terms in 5.4.5. I just understand the basics that laplacian on f(x,y) = d2f/dx2 + d2f/dy2. Can someone elaborate? Thanks in advance. EDIT: Just...
  8. laramman2

    Why does the Laplacian operator still maintain its unit vectors i, j, k?

    When two vectors are dotted, the result is a scalar. But why here http://www.cobalt.chem.ucalgary.ca/ziegler/educmat/chm386/rudiment/mathbas/vectors.htm , the del-squared still maintains its unit vectors i, j, k? Isn't it this way ∇2 = (∂2/∂x2 + ∂2/∂y2 + ∂2/∂z2) and not (i∂2/∂x2 + j∂2/∂y2 +...
  9. I

    Vector Calculus - Laplacian on Scalar Field

    A scalar field \psi is dependent only on the distance r = \sqrt{x^{2} + y^{2} + z^{2}} from the origin. Show: \partial_{x}^{2}\psi = \left(\frac{1}{r} - \frac{x^{2}}{r^{3}}\right)\frac{d\psi}{dr} + \frac{x^{2}}{r^{2}}\frac{d^{2}\psi}{dr^{2}} I've used the chain and product rules so...
  10. C

    Integration and Laplacian in polar coordinates

    Homework Statement I have a function y that is axisymmetric, so that y=y(r). I want to solve for r such that ∇2y(r) = Z. Can anyone tell me if I'm following the right procedure? I'm not sure since there are two "∂/∂r"s present... Homework Equations ∇2 = (1/r)(∂/∂r)(r*(∂/∂r)) +...
  11. T

    MHB Eigenvalues of Laplacian are non-negative

    Hi, I need to learn the following proof and I'm having trouble getting my head round it. Any help would be appreciated. Show that if vector x in R^n with components x=(x1,x2,...,xn), then x.Lx=0.5 sum(Aij(xi-xj)^2) where A is the graphs adjacency matrix, L is laplacian. Then use this result to...
  12. J

    Understanding Matrix Calculus: Laplacian, Hessian, and Jacobian Explained

    Hellow! I was studying matrix calculus and learned new things as: \frac{d\vec{y}}{d\vec{x}}=\begin{bmatrix} \frac{dy_1}{dx_1} & \frac{dy_1}{dx_2} \\ \frac{dy_2}{dx_1} & \frac{dy_2}{dx_2} \\ \end{bmatrix} \frac{d}{d\vec{r}}\frac{d}{d\vec{r}} = \frac{d^2}{d\vec{r}^2} = \begin{bmatrix}...
  13. A

    Potential, field, Laplacian and Spherical Coordinates

    Homework Statement Say I am given a spherically symmetric potential function V(r), written in terms of r and a bunch of other constants, and say it is just a polynomial of some type with r as the variable, \frac{q}{4\pi\varepsilon_o}P(r), and we are inside the sphere of radius R, so r<R…...
  14. S

    Integrals featuring the laplacian and a tensor

    Ok, so I'd like some advice on doing integrals that involve a laplacian and a tensor for example =\int\frac{\delta}{\delta A_{\mu}}\frac{1}{4M^{2}}(\partial_{\rho}A_{\sigma}-\partial_{\sigma}A_{\rho})\frac{\partial^{2}}{\partial x^{2}}(\partial^{\rho}A^{\sigma}-\partial^{\sigma}A^{\rho}) where...
  15. Einj

    Laplacian in toroidal coordinates

    Hi everyone, I would like to write the Laplacian operator in toroidal coordinate given by: $$ \begin{cases} x=(R+r\cos\phi)\cos\theta \\ y=(R+r\cos\phi)\sin\theta \\ z=r\sin\phi \end{cases} $$ where r and R are fixed. How do I do? More generally how do I find the Laplacian under a...
  16. A

    Laplacian of 1/r Explodes at Origin

    Ok, there are a couple of other threads about this, but they don't seem to answer my question. If I take the double derivative of 1/r, I'll get 2/r^3, but if I take the laplacian, I get something different. Why? Namely: \frac{d}{dr}\frac{d}{dr}(\frac{1}{r}) = \frac{d}{dr}...
  17. M

    LaPlacian joint probability density function.

    A joint pdf is given as pxy(x,y)=(1/4)^2 exp[-1/2 (|x| + |y|)] for x and y between minus and plus infinity. Find the joint pdf W=XY and Z=Y/X. f(w,z)=∫∫f(x,y)=∫∫(1/4)^2*e^(-(|x|+|y|)/2)dxdy -∞<x,y<∞ Someone told me I can not use Jacobian because of the absolute value. Is that true? So far this...
  18. M

    Laplacian in Slanted Coordinates

    Whoops, I figured it out!
  19. M

    How Can the Laplacian Relate to Einstein Manifolds?

    I am researching a hypothesis and looking for anyone who is familiar with differential topology (specifically Einstein manifolds). I have access to the Besse book Einstein Manifolds but am also looking for any open questions in differential topology that I am not aware of. I am attempting to...
  20. S

    Gradient and Laplacian of three functions

    Hello, I've been reading up on Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics. While reading some papers I found some math that I do not know how to do because I never took multi variable calculus. I need the gradient and laplacian of all three of the following functions ( h is a constant )...
  21. S

    Bochner-Weitzenbock formula (-> Laplacian)

    Hi! I'm trying to understand a proof for the Bochner-Weitzenbock formula. I'm sorry I have to bother you with such a basic question but I've worked at this for more than an hour now, but I just don't get the very first step, i.e.: Where we are in a complete Riemannian manifold, f \in...
  22. P

    MHB Dirichlet problem for the laplacian in the strip

    I'm looking for all functions $u$ harmonic in $S$ and continuous in $\overline S$ such that $$u(a,y)=u(b,y)=0,\forall y$$ and $$\lim_{|y|\rightarrow +\infty} u(x,y)=0$$ where $S$ is the strip $\{a<\operatorname{Re}(z)<b\}$ My strategy is the following. I know that if $g$ is continuous on...
  23. P

    Laplacian in Spherical Coordinates

    Homework Statement Homework Equations All above. The Attempt at a Solution Tried the first few, couldn't get them to work. Any ideas, hopefully for each step?
  24. E

    Del vs. Laplacian Operator : Quick Question

    Just to clarify: The del operator's a vector and the laplacian operator is just a scalar?
  25. A

    The correct domain of self-adjointness for the Laplacian

    The "correct" domain of self-adjointness for the Laplacian Consider the Hilbert space L^2(\mathbb R^d), and consider the Laplacian operator \Delta on this space. We want to find a domain, D(\Delta) \subset L^2(\mathbb R^d), such that this guy is a self-adjoint operator. We have been talking...
  26. iVenky

    Is the Laplacian a Vector or Scalar?

    Here's the link that I read for Laplacian- http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/lapl.html It looks as if the laplacian is scalar but the point is we know that ∇x∇xA= ∇(∇.A) - ∇2A This means that laplacian should be vector in nature which contradicts what was given in the link...
  27. M

    Laplacian over a radial function for charge density

    As you probably can see from the above shot, I'm determining charge density via the Laplacian over the potential (phi). I understand the mathematical steps, just confused on the factor of 4pi that pops up in the denominator. I think I understand why you would do that and here's my reasoning...
  28. C

    From London Equations to Penetration Depth(Integrate Laplacian)

    (In SI units) Start with London's 2nd equation in Superconductivity, curl J = 1/(μ*λ²), and Ampere's curl B = μ*j. Then we curl both side curl curl B = μ* curl J and we do the substitution. So curl curl B = 0 - del²B which is the laplacian operator. My question is...how to integrate...
  29. M

    Can complex analysis be used to solve PDEs other than the Laplacian?

    Hey all, I was reading up on Harmonic functions and how every solution to the laplace equation can be represented in the complex plane, so a mapping in the complex domain is actually a way to solve the equation for a desired boundary. This got me wondering: is this possible for other PDEs...
  30. A

    Laplace Operator: Vector Dot Product & 2nd Derivative

    Hi guys The Laplace Operator The Laplace operator is defined as the dot product (inner product) of two gradient vector operators: When applied to f(x,y), this operator produces a scalar function: My question is how a vector dot product ( del operator vector dot product...
  31. N

    Chain-rule issue on Laplacian equation

    Homework Statement "The flow of a fluid past a wedge is described by the potential ψ(r,θ) = -crαsin(αθ), where c and α are constants, and (r,θ) are the cylindrical coordinates of a point in the fluid (the potential is independent of z). Verify that this function satisfies Laplace's...
  32. K

    Eigenvalues for a 400x400 normalized laplacian of a graph

    This is related to spectral graph theory. I am getting the following eigenvalues for a 400x400 matrix which is a normalized laplacian matrix of a graph. The graph is not connected. So why am i getting a> a negative eigenvalue. b> why is not second eigenvalue 0? ... I used colt(java) and octave...
  33. M

    Electric potential inside and outside spherical capacitator using laplacian

    Homework Statement Find the electric potential inside and outside a spherical capacitor, consisting of two hemispheres of radius 1 m. joined along the equator by a thin insulating strip, if the upper hemisphere is kept at 220 V and the lower hemisphere is grounded Homework Equations...
  34. R

    PDE Help - Eigenfunction of a LaPlacian

    [b]1. A function "v" where v(x,y,z)≠0 is called an eigenfunction of the Laplacian Δ (on some region Ω - with specified homogenous BC) if v satisifies the BC ad also Δv=-λv on Ω for some number λ. Part A: Give an example of an eigenfunction of Δ when Ω is the cube [0,∏]3 with Dirichlet BCs...
  35. A

    What is the Laplacian of the scalar potential with an extra term?

    On page 35 of Jackson's Classical Electrodynamics, he calculates the Laplacian of a scalar potential due to a continuous charge distribution. In the expression for the potential, the operand of the Laplacian is \frac{1}{|r-r'|}, where r is the the point where the potential is to be...
  36. X

    Converting the Laplacian into polar coordinates

    I need to convert the Laplacian in two dimensions to polar coordinates. \nabla^2 u=\frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial x^2}+\frac{\partial^2 u}{\partial y^2} I am having problems with computing the second derivatives using the chain rule. For example, the first derivative with respect to x...
  37. D

    Vector laplacian and del squared confusion.

    Hello all, I am reading a research paper and have found the equation below: http://latex.codecogs.com/gif.latex?\mathbf{z}%20=%20\mathbf{a}%20-%20%28\nabla^2E%28\mathbf{t}%29%29^{-1}\Delta%20E%28\mathbf{t}%29%29 in which E is some function with the variable t being the vector input, and a...
  38. M

    Laplacian on Riemannian manifolds

    hi friends :) is there someone who has studied the spectrum of a Riemannian Laplacian? I have a question on this subject. Thank you very much for answering me.
  39. M

    How to Derive the Finite Difference Laplacian in Various Coordinates?

    Updated: Finite difference of Laplacian in spherical Homework Statement I understand the problem a little better now and am revising my original plea for help. I don't actually need to integrate the expression. Integration was just one technique of arriving at a finite difference...
  40. Q

    Laplacian VS gradient of divergence

    i don't really understand the difference :( ∇2V versus ∇ (∇ . V) ? can anyone give me a simple example to showcase the application difference? thanks!
  41. M

    Solving Inverse Laplace Transform: Understanding L^{-1}(8)

    This might sound kinda dumb, but what is the Inverse Laplace transform of a number? So L^{-1}(8) for example.
  42. K

    Can Laplacian and Curl Operators Be Interchanged?

    Hi, During the description of vector spherical harmonics, where N = curl of M , I came across the following : Laplacian of N = Laplacian of (Curl of M) = Curl of (Laplacian of M) How do we know that these operators can be interchanged ? What is the general rule for such interchanges...
  43. C

    Galilean transform of the Laplacian

    Homework Statement I'm trying to show that the wave equation is not invariant under Galilean transform. To do that I need to figure out how the Laplacian transforms from S to S'. I seem to have trouble understanding why the laplacian actually changes. Homework Equations x'=x-vt, t'=t The...
  44. M

    Maxwell's Eqn: Vanishing Laplacian of 1/r Explained

    In my derivation of one of Maxwell's Equations, I needed the fact that the Laplacian of 1/r vanishes everywhere except at r=0, where r is the norm of a radial vector. I cannot see how this is? I like to be solid in the math I use for a derivation, so this would really help if someone could...
  45. K

    How to derive the spherical coordinate form for Laplacian

    Homework Statement \Delta f = \frac{1}{{r^2 }}\frac{\partial }{{\partial r}}\left( {r^2 \frac{{\partial f}}{{\partial r}}} \right) + \frac{1}{{r^2 \sin \phi }}\frac{\partial }{{\partial \phi }}\left( {\sin \phi \frac{{\partial f}}{{\partial \phi }}} \right) + \frac{1}{{r^2 \sin ^2 \phi...
  46. S

    Laplacian, partial derivatives

    Homework Statement Find the Laplacian of F = sin(k_x x)sin(k_y y)sin(k_z z) Homework Equations \nabla^2 f = \left( \frac{\partial}{\partial x} +\frac{\partial}{\partial y} + \frac{\partial}{\partial z} \right) \cdot \left( \frac{\partial}{\partial x} + \frac{\partial}{\partial y} +...
  47. H

    Can you take the Laplacian of a vector field with cylindrical coordinates?

    Tell me I'm not going mad. If I have a vector field of the form \mathbf{A}=(0,A(x,y,z),0) and I want to take the Laplacian of it, \nabla^{2}\mathbf{A}, can I take the Laplacian of the co-ordinate function A(x,y,z)? Will this be the same for the case of cylindrical co-ordinates? Mat
  48. haushofer

    Laplacian of 2-Form in R^3: Reference & Calculation

    Hi, According to eg Nakahara's conventions the Laplacian on a form K is given by \Delta K = (dd^{\dagger} + d^{\dagger}d)K In my case K is a two form living in R^3. I've calculated the Laplacian and arrive at \Delta K = \Bigl( \frac{1}{3!}\epsilon^{klm}\epsilon^n_{\...
  49. N

    Laplacian of 1/r in Darwin term

    The http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fine_structure#Darwin_term" contains a (3D-)delta function as a result of taking the Laplacian of the Coulomb potential. I'm trying to find out why. I've been searching, and I've so far come across different views of the Laplacian of 1/r at the origin. Either...
  50. A

    Explaining Laplacian Vanishing for Harmonic Functions: A Physical Analysis

    Why does the laplacian vanish for harmonic functions? Can someone explain this in physical terms?
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