Multiscale Discrete Approximation of Fourier Integral Operators

Abstract

We develop a discretization and computational procedures for approximation of the action of Fourier integral operators the canonical relations of which are graphs. Such operators appear, for instance, in the formulation of imaging and inverse scattering of seismic reflection data. Our discretization and algorithms are based on a multiscale low-rank expansion of the action of Fourier integral operators using the dyadic parabolic decomposition of phase space and on explicit constructions of low-rank separated representations using prolate spheroidal wave functions, which directly reflect the geometry of such operators. The discretization and computational procedures connect to the discrete almost symmetric wave packet transform. Numerical wave propagation and imaging examples illustrate our computational procedures.