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Dyadic

A linear Polynomial of Dyads ${\bf AB}+{\bf CD}+\ldots$ consisting of nine components $A_{ij}$ which transform as

$\displaystyle (A_{ij})'$ $\textstyle =$ $\displaystyle \sum_{m,n}{h_mh_n\over h_i'h_j'}{\partial x_m\over\partial x_i'}{\partial x_n\over\partial x_j'}A_{mn}$ (1)
  $\textstyle =$ $\displaystyle \sum_{m,n}{h_i'h_j'\over h_mh_n}{\partial x_i'\over\partial x_m}{\partial x_j'\over\partial x_n} A_{mn}$ (2)
  $\textstyle =$ $\displaystyle \sum_{m,n}{h_i'h_n\over h_mh_j'}{\partial x_i'\over\partial x_m}{\partial x_n\over\partial x_j'} A_{mn}.$ (3)

Dyadics are often represented by Gothic capital letters. The use of dyadics is nearly archaic since Tensors perform the same function but are notationally simpler.


A unit dyadic is also called the Idemfactor and is defined such that

\begin{displaymath}
{\bf I}\cdot{\bf A} \equiv {\bf A}.
\end{displaymath} (4)

In Cartesian Coordinates,
\begin{displaymath}
{\bf I} = \hat {\bf x}\hat {\bf x}+\hat {\bf y}\hat {\bf y}+\hat {\bf z}\hat {\bf z},
\end{displaymath} (5)

and in Spherical Coordinates
\begin{displaymath}
{\bf I} = \nabla {\bf r}.
\end{displaymath} (6)

See also Dyad, Tetradic


References

Arfken, G. ``Dyadics.'' §3.5 in Mathematical Methods for Physicists, 3rd ed. Orlando, FL: Academic Press, pp. 137-140, 1985.

Morse, P. M. and Feshbach, H. ``Dyadics and Other Vector Operators.'' §1.6 in Methods of Theoretical Physics, Part I. New York: McGraw-Hill, pp. 54-92, 1953.




© 1996-9 Eric W. Weisstein
1999-05-24