Solenoidal vector field

In vector calculus a solenoidal vector field (also known as an incompressible vector field, a divergence-free vector field, or a transverse vector field) is a vector field v with divergence zero at all points in the field: In vector calculus a solenoidal vector field (also known as an incompressible vector field, a divergence-free vector field, or a transverse vector field) is a vector field v with divergence zero at all points in the field: A common way of expressing this property is to say that the field has no sources or sinks. The field lines of a solenoidal field are either closed loops or end at infinity. The fundamental theorem of vector calculus states that any vector field can be expressed as the sum of an irrotational and a solenoidal field. The condition of zero divergence is satisfied whenever a vector field v has only a vector potential component, because the definition of the vector potential A as: automatically results in the identity (as can be shown, for example, using Cartesian coordinates): The converse also holds: for any solenoidal v there exists a vector potential A such that v = ∇ × A . {displaystyle mathbf {v} = abla imes mathbf {A} .} (Strictly speaking, this holds only subject to certain technical conditions on v, see Helmholtz decomposition.) The divergence theorem gives the equivalent integral definition of a solenoidal field; namely that for any closed surface, the net total flux through the surface must be zero: where d S {displaystyle dmathbf {S} } is the outward normal to each surface element. Solenoidal has its origin in the Greek word for solenoid, which is σωληνοειδές (sōlēnoeidēs) meaning pipe-shaped, from σωλην (sōlēn) or pipe. In the present context of solenoidal it means constrained as if in a pipe, so with a fixed volume.