Vortex field

A vortex field in two dimensions is a velocity field or a vector field that equals \dfrac{\hat{\phi}}{r}. If we take \oint \vec{v} \cdot d\vec{l} around a circle centered at the origin, we get a constant. Let us stay away from the origin to avoid trouble with the 1/r.

This vector field has a vanishing divergence. Therefore it can be written as a curl.

This vector field also has a vanishing curl. Therefore it can be written as a gradient.

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About Raghu Mahajan

Postdoctoral research fellow in theoretical physics, studying quantum gravity.
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