Lamellar field
In vector analysis and in fluid dynamics, a vector field is lamellar if it has no rotational component. That is, if the field is denoted as v, then
- .
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):
- .
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.
