The divergence operator in a rotated reference frame

[nonequilibrium]

One can easily prove that \nabla \cdot f is invariant under a rotation of the reference frame, however I would like to prove that the divergence operator itself is invariant (same principle, different approach). In other words I want to prove that \mathbf \nabla = \mathbf e_x \frac{\partial}{\partial x} + \mathbf e_y \frac{\partial}{\partial y} = \mathbf e_{x'} \frac{\partial}{\partial x'} + \mathbf e_{y'} \frac{\partial}{\partial y'} where \mathbf r' = U \mathbf r is a coordinate transformation with U orthogonal.

I think matrix notation will simplify things. Rewrite \nabla = \mathbf e^T \cdot \partial where we define \mathbf e = \left( \begin{align} \mathbf e_x \\ \mathbf e_y \end{align}\right) and \partial = \left( \begin{align} \partial_x \\ \partial_y \end{align} \right).

If I remember correctly, the basis transformation is the inverse of the coordinate transformation, i.e. \mathbf e = U \mathbf e'. Also, one can easily check that \partial = U^T \partial' (e.g. \partial_{x} = \frac{\partial x'}{\partial x} \partial_{x'} + \frac{\partial y'}{\partial x} \partial_{y'} = U_{11} \partial_{x'} + U_{21} \partial_{y'})

This gives that \nabla = \mathbf e^T \cdot \partial = \left( U \mathbf e' \right)^T \cdot \left( U^T \partial' \right) = \mathbf e'^T \; U^T U^T \; \partial' \neq \mathbf e'^T \cdot \partial'

Where did I err?

 

[nonequilibrium]

Actually, googling it a bit, it seems derivatives and basis vectors transform the same way (apparently called "covariantly", although I'm not yet familiar with such language).

So in that case \mathbf e = U^T \mathbf e' and things work out, i.e. \nabla = \mathbf e^T \cdot \partial = \mathbf e'^T \cdot \partial '

 

[Marioeden]

Just bust out some sines and cosines and you should find it all falls out after a bit of tedious algebra.

 

[nonequilibrium]

Seems like bad advice, the whole notion of vector calculus was invented to avoid the tedious algebra. Anyway it seems I was able to work it out as shown in my previous post.

 

[Marioeden]

I say tedious, it's like four lines:
x' = xcos(t) + ysin(t)
y' = -xsin(t) + ycos(t)

(same for the vectors only you have e1 for x and e2 for y)

then just plug in and substitute d/dx = cos(t)d/dx' + sin(t)d/dy' and also for d/dy and you're done :)

 

[nonequilibrium]

Oh first off, my previous reply was a bit "harsh" but I thought I was replying to another thread, in a different context (but also happened to be about vector calculus), so anyway sorry about that.

As for your suggestion: I don't see how that requires less work? You seem to be taking the same steps I did? Also my notation makes it valid for all dimensions, which is a nice perk, and also I don't have to explicitly calculate any products, so I'd say my calculations are neater.

 

[Dead Boss]

This might be easier to do in polar coordinates. Just a wild guess off the top of my head.

 

[Marioeden]

To be fair, your method is actually more appropriate and does generalise nicely. I just put mine forward as a nice explicit way to show that it's definitely true.

I usually go explicit first in the simplest case, then use nicer and more general notation and then finally generalise a result. I just find it helps build the intuition along the way as nice notation often distances you from that physical interpretation of what's going on.