On crosswell diffusive time-domain electromagnetic tomography

Abstract

We investigate the reconstruction of a conductive target using crosswell time-domain electromagnetic tomography in the diffusive limit. The work is a natural extension of our ongoing research in the modification of time-domain methods for the rugged marine mid-ocean-ridge environment, an environment characterized by extreme topography and pronounced variations in crustal conductivity on all scales. We have proved both in theory and in practice that 'traveltime', the time taken for an electromagnetic signal to be identified at a receiver following a change of current in the transmitter, is an excellent, robust estimator of average conductivity on a path between transmitter and receiver. A simple estimate of the traveltime for a parallel electric dipole-dipole system is the time at which the derivative of the electric field with respect to logarithmic time at the receiver reaches its maximum. We have derived the fundamental relationship between the traveltime and the conductivity of the medium for a uniform whole-space. We have applied the concept of the traveltime inversion to the related crosswell problem and demonstrated reconstructions of finite targets based on tomographic analyses. Results show that the crosswell time-domain electromagnetic tomography can supply useful information, such as the location and shape of a conductive target.