 Scalar, symmetric-traceless and axial tensor decomposition

Every three-dimensional Cartesian second-rank tensor splits into scalar, symmetric-traceless, and antisymmetric parts. Their coefficients are $P=P_{kk}/3$, $S_{ij}=(P_{ij}+P_{ji})/2-P{\delta }_{ij}$, and $A_k={ϵ}_{kij}{P}_{ij}/2$. The epsilon contraction identity reconstructs the antisymmetric part and proves uniqueness. Under proper rotations $A$ behaves as a vector, but under reflections it is an axial vector.