# The gradient of the d'Alembertian Green's function

So I have to prove that the d'alembertian of the associated green's function $$G(t,t',\vec{r},\vec{r}')$$ is equal to zero when given that $$\vec{r}\neq\vec{r}'$$ $$\left(\frac{1}{c^2}\partial^2 t-\Delta\right)\frac{\delta\left(t-t'-\frac{|\vec{r}-\vec{r}'|}{c}\right)}{R}=0$$ Well for the sake of effectiveness I substituted $$t-t'=:\tau$$ and $$|\vec{r}-\vec{r}'|=:R$$. Well then the problem looks like this: $$\left(\frac{1}{c^2}\partial^2 \tau-\Delta\right)\delta\left(\tau-\frac{R}{c}\right)=0$$ The time derivative is very easy but my real problem is, I am confused how to calculate the gradient of the delta-function, as it's dependent on the time and the space coordinates.

So how shall I compute $$\nabla\delta\left(\tau-\frac{R}{c}\right)=?$$ In my course book the result for this term seem to be $$\nabla\delta\left(\tau-\frac{R}{c}\right)= \dot{\delta}\left(\tau-\frac{R}{c}\right)\cdot\left(-\frac{1}{c}\hat{R}\right)$$ with $$\hat{R}$$ as the unit vector of R.

• I asked the same question here physics.stackexchange.com/q/578653 – QuantumEyedea Jan 30 at 20:50
• Something is wrong in your question: where is G in the equations? It should rather be: $\Box G = \delta$ – Nikodem Jan 31 at 0:02
• @QuantumEyedea Well the given answer to your question is much more entricate and complex and the green's function is defined by an extra heaviside-function. My question is more basic. I try to understand whether the gradient not has also a time component which doesn't seem to be logical. At the same time I can't figure out another way to come to the result given in my course book. – Görgün Jan 31 at 13:32
• @Nikodem $\delta\left(t-t'-\frac{|\vec{r}-\vec{r}'|}{c}\right)$ ist G – Görgün Jan 31 at 13:38
• In which dimension do you mean it? The Green's function depends on the dimension. In 3+1 is has the form $G(t,\vec r) = \delta(t - r)/r$. Here is the complete answer with calculation thphys.nuim.ie/Notes/MP465/Tutorial_09.pdf – Nikodem Jan 31 at 15:57

$$\partial r_i\delta\left(\tau-\frac{R}{c}\right)= \frac{\partial \delta}{\partial (\tau-\frac{R}{c})}\frac{\partial(\tau-\frac{R}{c})}{\partial r_{i}}$$
So what we now have to prove is: $$\frac{\partial}{\partial(\tau-a)}=\frac{\partial \tau}{\partial(\tau-a)}\frac{\partial}{\partial\tau}=\frac{\partial[(\tau-a)+a]}{\partial(\tau-a)}\frac{\partial}{\partial\tau}=\frac{\partial}{\partial\tau}$$
So it follows $$\partial r_i\delta\left(\tau-\frac{R}{c}\right)= \frac{\partial \delta}{\partial \tau}\frac{\partial(\tau-\frac{R}{c})}{\partial r_{i}}=\dot{\delta}\left(\tau-\frac{R}{c}\right)\cdot\left(-\frac{1}{c}\hat{R}\right)$$
We need frequently to differentiate expressions of Dirac $$\delta$$-function when the argument of the latter is a function $$f\left(z\right)$$ of the variable $$z$$ with respect to which we want to differentiate. So $$$$\dfrac{\partial\delta\bigl[f\left(z\right)\bigr]}{\partial z} \boldsymbol{=}\dfrac{\mathrm d\delta\bigl[f\left(z\right)\bigr]}{\mathrm d f\left(z\right)}\dfrac{\partial f\left(z\right)}{\partial z}\boldsymbol{=}\boldsymbol{-}\dfrac{\delta\bigl[f\left(z\right)\bigr]}{ f\left(z\right)}\dfrac{\partial f\left(x\right)}{\partial z} \nonumber$$$$ that is $$$$\boxed{\:\:\dfrac{\partial\delta\bigl[f\left(z\right)\bigr]}{\partial z} \boldsymbol{=}\boldsymbol{-}\dfrac{\delta\bigl[f\left(z\right)\bigr]}{ f\left(z\right)}\dfrac{\partial f\left(z\right)}{\partial z}\vphantom{\dfrac{\dfrac{a}{b}}{\dfrac{a}{b}}}\:\:} \tag{01}\label{01}$$$$ In our case $$$$f\left(x_1,x_2,x_3\right)\boldsymbol{=}c\tau\boldsymbol{-}r\boldsymbol{=}c\tau\boldsymbol{-}\sqrt{x^2_1\boldsymbol{+}x^2_2\boldsymbol{+}x^2_3} \tag{02}\label{02}$$$$ so $$$$\dfrac{\partial\delta\bigl(c\tau\boldsymbol{-}r\bigr)}{\partial x_\jmath} \boldsymbol{=}\dfrac{\delta\bigl(c\tau\boldsymbol{-}r\bigr)}{\bigl(c\tau\boldsymbol{-}r\bigr)}\dfrac{\partial r}{\partial x_\jmath}\boldsymbol{=}\dfrac{\delta\bigl(c\tau\boldsymbol{-}r\bigr)}{\bigl(c\tau\boldsymbol{-}r\bigr)}\dfrac{x_\jmath}{r} \tag{03}\label{03}$$$$ hence $$$$\boldsymbol{\nabla}\delta\bigl(c\tau\boldsymbol{-}r\bigr) \boldsymbol{=}\dfrac{\delta\bigl(c\tau\boldsymbol{-}r\bigr)}{\bigl(c\tau\boldsymbol{-}r\bigr)}\dfrac{\mathbf{r}}{r}\boldsymbol{=}\dfrac{\delta\bigl(c\tau\boldsymbol{-}r\bigr)}{\bigl(c\tau\boldsymbol{-}r\bigr)}\mathbf{n}_r \tag{04}\label{04}$$$$ where $$\mathbf{n}_r$$ the unit vector in the direction of $$\mathbf{r}$$. Finally $$$$\boxed{\:\:\boldsymbol{\nabla}\delta\Bigl(\tau\boldsymbol{-}\dfrac{r}{c}\Bigr) \boldsymbol{=}\dfrac{\delta\Bigl(\tau\boldsymbol{-}\dfrac{r}{c}\Bigr)}{c\Bigl(\tau\boldsymbol{-}\dfrac{r}{c}\Bigr)}\dfrac{\mathbf{r}}{r}\boldsymbol{=}\dfrac{\delta\Bigl(\tau\boldsymbol{-}\dfrac{r}{c}\Bigr)}{c\Bigl(\tau\boldsymbol{-}\dfrac{r}{c}\Bigr)}\mathbf{n}_r\:\:} \tag{05}\label{05}$$$$