Vector Differential Operators in arbitrary coordinates: a general approach
Abstract
We present a method for calculating the results of operation of differential operators operating on components of vector in generalized coordinates not restricted to orthogonal one. For this we use the relationships between covariant, contravariant and physical components of a vector and the idea of covariant differentiation. This not only simplifies vector calculus in common curvilinear coordinates, e.g., cylindrical or spherical polar, but also provides a deeper understanding of these operators in coordinate independent form.
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