Helicity vector of a solenoidal Fourier mode ($\frac{1}{2}\mathrm{Re}(i{\hat{\mathbf{u}}}^{\ast }\times \hat{\mathbf{u}})=H\mathbf{k}$)

For a transverse complex velocity amplitude $\hat{\mathbf{u}}$ and real nonzero wavevector $\mathbf{k}$, write $\hat{\mathbf{u}}=\mathbf{a}+i\mathbf{c}$. Solenoidality makes both real vectors perpendicular to $\mathbf{k}$, so $\frac{1}{2}\mathrm{Re}(i{\hat{\mathbf{u}}}^{\ast }\times \hat{\mathbf{u}})=-\mathbf{a}\times \mathbf{c}=H\mathbf{k}$. The corresponding spatial average of kinetic helicity density is $-H{k}^2$. Cross-product order determines this sign.