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I'm currently working on a experiment about Electric Fields and Equipotential Curves. The problem is that I want to plot (estimate) the curves of electric field using the fact that every one of these curves must be perpendicular to equipotential ones.

To make it short, I have values (V) in a plane, and everywhere there's the same value of V, I have to conect these points and get a curve. The problem is that these V values are experimental, so they aren't exactly the same, but I can get a relation with a contour plot:

ListContourPlot[Data, InterpolationOrder -> 7, 
  PlotLegends -> Automatic, PlotRange -> All]

where Data is an array with 15x8 intensity V values:

Data = {{3.3, 2.97, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 3.8, 4.2}, {3.85, 3.65, 
  3.76, 3.41, 3.31, 3.33, 3.35, 3.3, 3.38, 3.44, 3.6, 3.65, 4., 4.2, 
  4.45}, {4.48, 4.35, 4.45, 4.28, 4.22, 4.25, 4.31, 4.3, 4.32, 4.37, 
  4.45, 4.46, 4.6, 4.67, 4.76}, {5.08, 5.09, 5.17, 5.25, 5.23, 5.27, 
  5.27, 5.28, 5.3, 5.3, 5.35, 5.3, 5.27, 5.23, 5.22}, {5.75, 5.85, 
  5.25, 6.18, 6.31, 6.30, 6.45, 6.44, 6.65, 6.62, 6.52, 6.41, 6.17, 
  6.02, 5.86}, {7.5, 7.22, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 6.33, 
  6.22}, {6.56, 6.74, 7.01, 7.28, 7.41, 7.52, 7.52, 7.53, 7.51, 7.45, 
  7.36, 7.22, 6.95, 6.63, 6.5}, {6.9, 7.03, 7.08, 7.22, 7.3, 7.32, 
  7.35, 7.34, 7.29, 7.23, 7.18, 7.12, 7.0, 6.84, 6.7}}

Before anyone wonders why, I've used an Interpolation because the data is not enough to create curved shapes, and from theory I know that these lines aren't usually straight lines.

The problem is: I need to get the perpendicular vector plot of this contourplot, or parametrize the contour curves to apply a gradient relation (E=-grad(V)).

What could I do? Any suggestions? I'm adding pictures of the result I got and what I want it to be, for this same specific configuration (2 parallel charged plates).

This is the result of the contour plot

This is the exact configuration I'm trying to work with, but without all the errors involved

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2 Answers 2

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(1) Use Interpolation to get an interpolating function intF.

intF = Interpolation[Flatten[MapIndexed[{#2, #} &, Transpose@data, {2}], 1], 
      InterpolationOrder -> 7];

(2) Use intF to get a ContourPlot and a StreamPlot (using the approach from this answer by Michael E2 and combine the two plots with Show:

cp = ContourPlot[intF[x, y], {x, 1, 15}, {y, 1, 8}, 
   Contours -> Range[0, 7], AspectRatio -> Automatic, ImageSize -> Large];

sp = StreamPlot[Evaluate[-D[intF[x, y], {{x, y}}]], {x, 1, 15}, {y, 1, 8}, 
      StreamScale -> None, 
      StreamStyle -> {"Arrow", Directive[Thick, Red]}, 
      StreamPoints -> Fine, AspectRatio -> Automatic];

Show[cp, sp]

enter image description here

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  • $\begingroup$ This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks! Do you think there's any way to limit the interpolation in the vecinity of the electrode planes? I mean, the program is interpretating there's a wider area with low Voltage (blue) than actually is. Is there any way to get thin bars ? $\endgroup$
    – nuwe
    Commented Aug 28, 2019 at 16:48
  • $\begingroup$ @StefanQuandt, you can play with the values a and b InterpolationOrder ->{a,b}. Also you can replace Range[0, 7] in Contours option setting with a list which is more finely divided in areas of interest. $\endgroup$
    – kglr
    Commented Aug 28, 2019 at 20:32
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Due to @kgir 's response, I made it to get very decent results. I'd like to share it with you, in any case there's someone trying to do the same.

intF = Interpolation[
   Flatten[MapIndexed[{#2, #} &, Transpose@data1, {2}], 1], 
   InterpolationOrder -> {1, 1}];
    cp = ContourPlot[intF[x, y], {x, 1, 15}, {y, 0.9, 8}, 
   Contours -> Range[0.1, 12], AspectRatio -> Automatic, 
   ImageSize -> Medium, PlotLegends -> {Automatic}];

sp = StreamPlot[
   Evaluate[-D[intF[x, y], {{x, y}}]], {x, 1, 15}, {y, 1.5, 8} , 
   StreamScale -> Coarse, 
   StreamStyle -> {"Arrow", Directive[Thin, Blue]}, 
   StreamPoints -> Fine, AspectRatio -> Automatic, 
   VectorScale -> Automatic];
vp := VectorPlot[
  Evaluate[-D[intF[x, y], {{x, y}}]], {x, 1, 15}, {y, 1.5, 5.9}, 
  VectorScale -> Automatic, AspectRatio -> Automatic, 
  VectorStyle -> {LightGreen}, VectorPoints -> 15]
vp2 := VectorPlot[
  Evaluate[-D[intF[x, y], {{x, y}}]], {x, 1, 15}, {y, 6.1, 8}, 
  VectorScale -> Automatic, AspectRatio -> Automatic, 
  VectorStyle -> {LightGreen}, VectorPoints -> 15]
sp2 = MapAt[{Opacity[0.25], #} &, sp, 1];
Show[cp, vp, vp2, sp2]}

Show[%169, ImageSize -> Large, FrameLabel -> {"Posición en eje x (cm)",
HoldForm["Posición en eje y (cm)"], "", "valores de Voltaje (V)"}, Ticks ->
Automatic,FrameStyle -> Directive[Black, Thickness[Medium]],
LabelStyle -> {FontFamily->"Arial", 16, GrayLevel[0]}]

Results in:

enter image description here enter image description here enter image description here enter image description here

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