Any vector field $\vec{v}(x,y,z)$ that satisfies the identity


\begin{displaymath}\nabla \times \vec{v} = 0 \notag
\end{displaymath}  

can be written as the gradient of a function $\phi(x,y,z)$ (scalar), called the potential function. In other words,


\begin{displaymath}\vec{v} = \nabla\phi \notag
\end{displaymath}  



Timothy S Choe
2003-03-15