Worked examples with Einstein summation notation

Victor Liu
February 22, 2009
Abstract
Some examples of using Einstein summation notation are presented. All manipulations
assume a three-dimensional space with cartesian coordinates (rather, the basic identities and
conversions from vector calculus only work in cartesian coordinates). The point here is to use
Einstein notation as a way of getting from one vector identity to another.
1 Basics from vector calculus
Dot product u v u
i
v
i
Cross product u v
ijk
u
j
v
k
Gradient f
i
f
Divergence u
i
u
i
Curl u
ijk

j
v
k
Directional derivative u v u
i

i
v
j
Vector Laplacian
2
u
i

i
u
j
2 Identities
Antisymmetry of permutation
ijk
=
jik
=
jki
= . . .
Derivatives of orthonormal basis
i
e
j
= 0
Derivatives of coordinates
i
x
j
=
ij
Permutations diering by 1 index
jmn

imn
= 2
ij
Permutations with identical indices
ijk

ijk
= 6 (twice the dimensionality)
Permutations diering by 2 indices
ijk

imn
=
jm

kn

jn

km
3 Examples
3.1 A vector identity
Show a (b c) = (a c)b (a b)c.

ijk
a
j
(
klm
b
l
c
m
) =
kij

klm
a
j
b
l
c
m
= (
il

jm

im

jl
)a
j
b
l
c
m
= a
j
b
i
c
j
a
j
b
j
c
i
= (a
j
c
j
)b
i
(a
j
b
j
)c
i
1
3.2 Proof of vector calculus null identities
Show (f) = 0 and (u) = 0.
(f) =
ijk

k
f
=
ikj

k
f
=
ikj

j
f
=
ijk

k
f
= 0
This is shown by antisymmetry, since we are free to swap the order of dierentiation in the third
to last line and switch all instances of j and k in the second to last line.
(u) =
i

ijk

j
u
k
=
ijk

j
u
k
=
jik

j
u
k
=
jik

i
u
k
=
ijk

j
u
k
= 0
The proof is analogous to the previous case.
3.3 The vector Laplacian identity
Show (u) = ( u)
2
u.

ijk

j
(
klm

l
u
m
) =
ijk

klm

l
u
m
=
kij

klm

l
u
m
= (
il

jm

im
jl)
j

l
u
m
=
j

i
u
j

j

j
u
i
=
i

j
u
j

j

j
u
i
=
i
(
j
u
j
) (
j

j
)u
i
3.4 An example from uid mechanics
Show
v v =

|v|
2
2

+ (v) v
v
a

a
v
b
=
b

v
a
v
a
2

+
bac
(
adf

d
v
f
)v
c
=
1
2
v
a

b
v
a
+
1
2
(
b
v
a
)v
a

abc
(
adf

d
v
f
)v
c
= v
a

b
v
a
(
abc

adf
)(
d
v
f
)v
c
= v
a

b
v
a
(
bd

cf

bf

cd
)(
d
v
f
)v
c
= v
a

b
v
a
(
b
v
c
)v
c
+ (
c
v
b
)v
c
= v
a

b
v
a
v
a
(
b
v
a
) + v
a
(
a
v
b
)
= v
a

a
v
b
2