What are the operators here and how are these formulas derived?

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The discussion centers on the mathematical operators grad, div, and curl, questioning their relationship to the vector calculus operators ∇ and ∇×. Participants express confusion over how the expression curl(μ⁻¹ curl A) simplifies to div(μ⁻¹ grad A_z), particularly when considering the vector A in a specific form. There is also a query about the relevance of electrical conductivity (σ) to static magnetic fields and the implications of assuming certain derivatives are zero. The conversation concludes with a clarification that the configuration being analyzed may resemble a long, current-carrying solenoid, which influences the mathematical modeling of the electromagnetic fields involved.
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In (23), are grad and div some kind of scalar operators comparing to ##\nabla## and ##\nabla\times##?
because tbh I dont know how ##\text{curl}(\mu^{-1}\text{curl}\textbf{A})## turns into ##\text{div}\mu^{-1}\text{grad}A_z## even given ##A=(0,0,A_z)^T##.

1719990166994.png

tbh I don't really get it. First, Is \sigma, which I assume is electrical conductivity, related to static magnetic field?
 
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No idea about this particular situation, but typically div stands for divergence and grad for gradient, these have well defined meanings.
 
Ren_Hoek said:
In (23), are grad and div some kind of scalar operators comparing to $\nabla$ and $\nabla\times$?
because tbh I dont know how $\text{curl}(\mu^{-1}\text{curl}\textbf{A})$ turns into $\text{div}\mu^{-1}\text{grad}A_z$ even given $A=(0,0,A_z)^T$.
tbh I don't really get it. First, Is \sigma, which I assume is electrical conductivity, related to static magnetic field?
Hint: On Physics Forums, "single dollar signs" don't denote LaTex. Instead, inline formulas are sandwiched between "double pound signs" and display formulas between "double dollar signs". (See the LaTeX Guide at the bottom left of the posting screen.)

Below I've reformatted your text to make the LaTeX readable:

In (23), are grad and div some kind of scalar operators comparing to ##\nabla## and ##\nabla\times##?​
because tbh I dont know how ##\text{curl}(\mu^{-1}\text{curl}\textbf{A})##turns into ##\text{div}\mu^{-1}\text{grad}A_z## even given ##A=(0,0,A_z)^T##.​
tbh I don't really get it. First, Is ##\sigma##, which I assume is electrical conductivity, related to static magnetic field?​
And to answer at least your first question: yes, ##\text{grad}\equiv\nabla##, ##\text{div}\equiv\nabla\cdot##, and ##\text{curl}\equiv\nabla\times##.
 
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renormalize said:
Hint: On Physics Forums, "single dollar signs" don't denote LaTex. Instead, inline formulas are sandwiched between "double pound signs" and display formulas between "double dollar signs". (See the LaTeX Guide at the bottom left of the posting screen.)

Below I've reformatted your text to make the LaTeX readable:

In (23), are grad and div some kind of scalar operators comparing to ##\nabla## and ##\nabla\times##?​
because tbh I dont know how ##\text{curl}(\mu^{-1}\text{curl}\textbf{A})##turns into ##\text{div}\mu^{-1}\text{grad}A_z## even given ##A=(0,0,A_z)^T##.​
tbh I don't really get it. First, Is ##\sigma##, which I assume is electrical conductivity, related to static magnetic field?​
And to answer at least your first question: yes, ##\text{grad}\equiv\nabla##, ##\text{div}\equiv\nabla\cdot##, and ##\text{curl}\equiv\nabla\times##.
thank you.
No matter how I calculate (calculating directly or using ##\nabla\times (\nabla\times A)=\nabla(\nabla\cdot A)-\nabla^2 A##), it is

$$\text{curl}(\text{curl} A) = (\dfrac{\partial^2 A_z}{\partial x\partial z}, \dfrac{\partial^2 A_z}{\partial y\partial z}, -\dfrac{\partial^2 A_z}{\partial x^2}-\dfrac{\partial^2 A_z}{\partial y^2})^T$$

for me so I don't know what this section of the book is talking about.
 
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I think grad before ##A_z## seems redundant here, as ##\text{curl}(\text{curl} A)_z=-(\dfrac{\partial^2 A_z}{\partial x^2}+\dfrac{\partial^2 A_z}{\partial y^2})## here, so as long as ##\dfrac{\partial^2 A_z}{\partial z^2}=0## it is much more understandable, but I couldn’t find evidence of it and maybe it's related to strong physics meaning which I'm not good at.
 
Ren_Hoek said:
I think grad before ##A_z## seems redundant here, as ##\text{curl}(\text{curl} A)_z=-(\dfrac{\partial^2 A_z}{\partial x^2}+\dfrac{\partial^2 A_z}{\partial y^2})## here, so as long as ##\dfrac{\partial^2 A_z}{\partial z^2}=0## it is much more understandable, but I couldn’t find evidence of it and maybe it's related to strong physics meaning which I'm not good at.
Don't forget that by eq.(28) in your posted text, the permeability can also be a function of the transverse-position (as well as time): ##\mu=\mu(x,y,t)##. Just use the basic definition of the curl in cartesian coordinates and "turn the crank" twice to get the result in eq.(22) of your text:$$\mathbf{A}=\left(0,0,A_{z}(x,y,t)\right)^{T}\Rightarrow\nabla\times\mathbf{A}=\left(\partial_{y}A_{z},-\partial_{x}A_{z},0\right)^{T}\Rightarrow\mu^{-1}(x,y,t)\nabla\times\mathbf{A}=\left(\mu^{-1}\partial_{y}A_{z},-\mu^{-1}\partial_{x}A_{z},0\right)^{T}$$$$\Rightarrow\nabla\times\left(\mu^{-1}\nabla\times\mathbf{A}\right)=\left(0,0,-\partial_{x}\left(\mu^{-1}\partial_{x}A_{z}\right)-\partial_{y}\left(\mu^{-1}\partial_{y}A_{z}\right)\right)^{T}=-\nabla\cdot\left[\mu^{-1}(x,y,t)\nabla\left(0,0,A_{z}(x,y,t)\right)^{T}\right]$$No "strong physics" involved!
 
renormalize said:
Don't forget that by eq.(28) in your posted text, the permeability can also be a function of the transverse-position (as well as time): ##\mu=\mu(x,y,t)##. Just use the basic definition of the curl in cartesian coordinates and "turn the crank" twice to get the result in eq.(22) of your text:$$\mathbf{A}=\left(0,0,A_{z}(x,y,t)\right)^{T}\Rightarrow\nabla\times\mathbf{A}=\left(\partial_{y}A_{z},-\partial_{x}A_{z},0\right)^{T}\Rightarrow\mu^{-1}(x,y,t)\nabla\times\mathbf{A}=\left(\mu^{-1}\partial_{y}A_{z},-\mu^{-1}\partial_{x}A_{z},0\right)^{T}$$$$\Rightarrow\nabla\times\left(\mu^{-1}\nabla\times\mathbf{A}\right)=\left(0,0,-\partial_{x}\left(\mu^{-1}\partial_{x}A_{z}\right)-\partial_{y}\left(\mu^{-1}\partial_{y}A_{z}\right)\right)^{T}=-\nabla\cdot\left[\mu^{-1}(x,y,t)\nabla\left(0,0,A_{z}(x,y,t)\right)^{T}\right]$$No "strong physics" involved!
Thank you, I see.
But how does ##(A_x, A_y) = (\mu^{-1} \dfrac{\partial^2 A_z}{\partial x\partial z}, \mu^{-1} \dfrac{\partial^2 A_z}{\partial y\partial z})## turn into (0, 0) or are they simply neglected since we're considering the z axis? or was my calculation wrong?
 
I think ##\dfrac{\partial A_z}{\partial z} = 0## as suggested in (28), it is also suggested in the expression ##A_z(x,y;t)## as it does not contain ##z##, and will make the second order derivative to 0 in the above case.
But I still don't fully understand the physical meaning of it.
 
Ren_Hoek said:
But I still don't fully understand the physical meaning of it.
I can't comment on "physical meaning" since the partial text you posted doesn't describe the configuration that is being analyzed. Maybe it's something like a long, current-carrying solenoid coil or a waveguide? A configuration, relatively long in the ##z##- (longitudinal) direction and relatively short in the ##x##-,##y##- (transverse) directions, can sometimes be well-approximated physically, at least away from the ends, by postulating that the currents and fields have a specific functional form ##\zeta(z)##. Examples are a DC solenoid (##\zeta(z)=\text{constant}##) or an electromagnetic waveguide propagating an oscillating field (##\zeta(z)=e^{ikz}##).
 
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renormalize said:
I can't comment on "physical meaning" since the partial text you posted doesn't describe the configuration that is being analyzed. Maybe it's something like a long, current-carrying solenoid coil or a waveguide? A configuration, relatively long in the ##z##- (longitudinal) direction and relatively short in the ##x##-,##y##- (transverse) directions, can sometimes be well-approximated physically, at least away from the ends, by postulating that the currents and fields have a specific functional form ##\zeta(z)##. Examples are a DC solenoid (##\zeta(z)=\text{constant}##) or an electromagnetic waveguide propagating an oscillating field (##\zeta(z)=e^{ikz}##).
Thank you.
1720028111679.png

I think it simulates this coil model.
 
  • #11
Ren_Hoek said:
I think it simulates this coil model.
OK, that clarifies your configuration. From Google, there are a fair number of references about modeling C-electromagnets. For example, CERN Dirac C-magnet:
C-magnet config.png

Since the transverse size (##x,y## directions) is large compared to the ##z##-extent, your 2D FEM model is only an approximate representation of the actual magnet. As the reference says:
Modeling.png

Here's the full 3D model of the magnetic field:
C-magnet 3D model.png

Of course, in the analysis and model you've cited, you apparently have the additional complication of time-dependent currents and fields. So it's a fairly complex problem.
 
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  • #12
renormalize said:
OK, that clarifies your configuration. From Google, there are a fair number of references about modeling C-electromagnets. For example, CERN Dirac C-magnet:
View attachment 347767
Since the transverse size (##x,y## directions) is large compared to the ##z##-extent, your 2D FEM model is only an approximate representation of the actual magnet. As the reference says:
View attachment 347768
Here's the full 3D model of the magnetic field:
View attachment 347769
Of course, in the analysis and model you've cited, you apparently have the additional complication of time-dependent currents and fields. So it's a fairly complex problem.
Thank you, I will take a further look into this model.
 
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