Symbolic vector analysis in plasma physics

Many problems in plasma physics involve substantial amounts of analytical v ector calculation. The complexity usually originates from both the vector o perations themselves and the underlying coordinate systems. A computer alge bra package for symbolic vector analysis in general coordinate systems, Gen eralVectorAnalysis (GVA), is developed using Mathematica. The modem viewpoi nt for 3D vector calculus, differential forms on 3-manifolds, is adopted to unify and systematize the vector calculus operations in general coordinate systems, Besides the basic vector analysis functions, the package provides asymptotic capabilities, 2D vector analysis notation, and a simple interfa ce for users to define their own coordinate systems. These features will be nefit physicists and applied mathematicians in their research where complic ated vector analysis in complicated coordinate systems is required, Several applications of this symbolic vector analysis package to plasma physics ar e also given. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.