VEST: Abstract Vector Calculus Simplification in Mathematica
Authors: J. Squire, J. Burby and H. Qin
Abstract:
We present a new package, VEST (Vector Einstein Summation Tools), that performs
abstract vector calculus computations in Mathematica. Through the use of index
notation, VEST is able to reduce scalar and vector expressions of a very general type
using a systematic canonicalization procedure. In addition, utilizing properties of the
Levi-Civita symbol, the program can derive types of multi-term vector identities that
are not recognized by canonicalization, subsequently applying these to simplify large
expressions. In a companion paper [1], we employ VEST in the automation of the
calculation of Lagrangians for the single particle guiding center system in plasma
physics, a computation which illustrates its ability to handle very large expressions.
VEST has been designed to be simple and intuitive to use, both for basic checking
of work and more involved computations.
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Submitted to: Computer Physics Communications (March 2013)
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Download PPPL-4857 (pdf 1.72 MB 24 pp)
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