Wavefront-Oriented Ray Tracing (WRT)

Proposers:
Radu Coman and Dirk Gajewski

Members:

Abstract: The wavefront-oriented ray-tracing (WRT) technique is an efficient method for computing multi-valued traveltimes in a smooth 3D (also 2D) velocity model. In this technique, we propagate a wavefront stepwise through the model and interpolate output quantities (ray quantities, e.g., traveltimes, slownesses) from rays to gridpoints.

The computational efficiency is increased by (1) using a set of three insertion criteria which permit an optimal ray and wavefront density, (2) using a new procedure for the estimation of traveltimes within cells, (3) using only kinematic ray tracing, (4) defining the input quantities (velocity and it's first derivatives) on a fine grid and using a linear interpolation to estimate these quantities at arbitrary points.

In the WRT technique, new rays are inserted by tracing them from the source point. This insertion procedure is more accurate than the insertion of new ray by interpolation on the wavefront.

Duration:
ongoing research

Funding: