Inverse random source problems for time-harmonic acoustic and elastic waves

Abstract

This paper concerns the random source problems for the time-harmonic acoustic and elastic wave equations in two and three dimensions. The goal is to determine the compactly supported external force from the radiated wave field measured in a domain away from the source region. The source is assumed to be a microlocally isotropic generalized Gaussian random function such that its covariance operator is a classical pseudo-differential operator. Given such a distributional source, the direct problem is shown to have a unique solution by using an integral equation approach and the Sobolev embedding theorem. For the inverse problem, we demonstrate that the amplitude of the scattering field averaged over the frequency band, obtained from a single realization of the random source, determines uniquely the principle symbol of the covariance operator. The analysis employs asymptotic expansions of the Green functions and microlocal analysis of the Fourier integral operators associated with the Helmholtz and Navier equations.