The ray method and the theory of edge waves

Abstract

Summary. A modification of the ray method including diffraction is outlined. The study is designed for the computation of the wavefields in 3‐D inhomogeneous media containing such structural elements as pinch‐outs, vertical and oblique contacts. faults and so on. The approach is based on the theory of edge waves. The total wavefield is considered as the superposition of two parts. The first part is described by the ray method. It has discontinuities because of its shadow boundaries. The second part is a superposition of two types of diffracted waves, caused by the edges and vertices of interfaces. This part smooths away the above‐mentioned discontinuities, so that the total wave‐field is a continuous one. The effects of multiple diffraction are considered. Of special importance is a mathematical form of amplitudes of diffracted waves, described with unified functions of eikonals. In fact, it allows all additional computations to be considered by finding the eikonals of diffracted waves. Copyright © 1984, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved