Traveltime-based raytracing for reflection waves

Eiichi ASAKAWA, Nobuyuki SHIMIZU

JGI, Inc.
1-5-21, Otsuaka, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo, 112-0012, Japan. E-mail: asakawa@jgi.co.jp

Abstract

A new approach for the raytracing of reflected waves is proposed. The algorithm is based on the Fermat's principle and reciprocity and it adopts any types of traveltime calculation techniques (Vidale(1988), Saito(1989), Moser(1991), Asakawa and Kawanaka(1993)). The method is a practical and efficient for a complicated subsurface structure. According to Fermat's principle, the raypaths with extremum traveltimes are traced as well a the minimum traveltime (first arrival), multi-valuedtraveltime can be handled in this method. Using Linear Traveltime Interpolation (Asakawa and Kawanaka (1993)) for traveltime calculations, the effectiveness of this approach is shown at first. Then we extend it for the calculations of traveltimes/raypaths of normal incident rays. This approach can be also applied to compute traveltimes/raypaths of P-S/S-P converted waves or multiple reflections.

raeg99@tansa.kumst.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Last modified: Wed Nov 24 09:38:29 1999