The eigenfunctions of the curl operator are obtained by separation of variables in spherical coordinates, making use of the spin‐weighted spherical harmonics. It is shown that the eigenfunctions of the curl operator with vanishing divergence can be written in terms of a single scalar potential that satisfies the Helmholtz equation. It is also shown that these eigenfunctions give a complete basis for the divergenceless vector fields.
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© 1994 American Institute of Physics.
1994
American Institute of Physics
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