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Lamellar vector field

In vector analysis and in fluid dynamics, a lamellar vector field is a vector field with no rotational component. That is, if the field is denoted as v, then

$\nabla \times \mathbf{v} = 0$ .

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A lamellar field is practically synonymous with an irrotational field. The adjective "lamellar" derives from the noun "lamella", which means a thin layer. In Latin, lamella is the diminutive of lamina (but do not confuse with laminar flow).

A lamellar field can be represented as the gradient of a scalar potential (see irrotational field):

$\mathbf{v} = \nabla \phi$ .

The lamellae to which "lamellar flow" refers are the surfaces of constant potential. In a given interval of time, all the fluid in a given layer of constant potential will move to another layer of constant potential.

A lamellar field which is also solenoidal is a Laplacian field.

Category: Fluid mechanics