Vektorpotenzial

Vektorpotenzial is a concept in electromagnetism and vector calculus. It is a vector field whose curl is equal to a given magnetic field. In other words, if B is the magnetic field, then the vector potential A is a field such that B = curl(A). The vector potential is not unique; adding the gradient of any scalar function to the vector potential does not change the magnetic field. This property is known as gauge invariance.

The vector potential is useful for several reasons. It simplifies the calculation of magnetic fields, particularly in situations with complex geometries. It also plays a crucial role in the formulation of Maxwell's equations in terms of potentials, which can be advantageous for certain theoretical investigations. The concept of vector potential is fundamental in understanding electromagnetic phenomena and is widely used in both classical and quantum electromagnetism. It allows for a more elegant and unified description of electric and magnetic fields.