3D raytracing through homogeneous anisotropic media with smooth interfaces

Abstract

Two-point raytracing problem is solved for events in a piecewise homogeneous and laterally varying 3D anisotropic media by continuation techniques. In conjunction with the shooting method the algorithm can be used for computation of qP, qS1, and qS2 events. The algorithm has the same performance and robustness as previous implementations of the continuation method for tracing rays in isotropic models. Routines based on our algorithm have several useful applications. First, an efficient forward problem solver for traveltime inversion of elastic parameters in the presence of anisotropy. Second, Newton-Raphson iterations during two-point raytracing produce wavefront attributes, slowness and wavefront curvature. These attributes allows the computation of geometrical spreading and second order approximations for traveltimes. Therefore it can be used to investigate the effects of anisotropy on CRS, in simple velocity models.