The wavefront construction (WFC) method is an effective tool to compute seismic ray fields and has wide applications. This paper applies the WFC method to a heterogeneous earth model represented as a 3-D grid instead of a sequence of smooth layers, as the layered model is insufficient for the regions with complex geological structures. In order to utilize gridded models, highly heterogeneous models must be smoothed for reliable numerical results. A new velocity gradient smoothing method is proposed that is able to control quantitatively the smoothness of the velocity model while preserving the main structural characteristics of the original model. A modified inverse distance weighting method is applied to obtain velocities or densities at an arbitrary point in the model for successive wavefront propagation. A very complex 3-D grid model based on the standard Marmousi reference model is tested to compare the new approach to alternative smoothing schemes, and the first arrival travel times from the WFC method are compared with results from an eikonal solver. These results are obtained more quickly, but the algorithm is restricted to computing only first arrivals. However, comparison helps to establish the accuracy of the WFC solutions and assess the influence of the smoothing schemes. The modeling comparisons verify the effectiveness of the proposed smoothing methods and the enhanced performance of the WFC algorithm with the 3-D grid model.

Thesis (M App Sc) -- University of South Australia, 1992

Typewritten copy / Includes bibliography. / 74 leaves : diag. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, 1957?

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, 1957? / Typewritten copy. Includes bibliography.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1970. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1970. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1969. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1970. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 262-268).

L’étude de l’interaction entre une impulsion électromagnétique et un matériau dispersif est un vieux sujet qui remonte au moins au tournant du vingtième siècle avec Sommerfeld et Brillouin. Depuis lors, de nombreux scientifiques ont apporté leur contribution mais il reste un certain nombre de questions, y compris dans des domaines supposés complètement défrichés. Le but de cette thèse est d’aborder, de la manière la plus systématique qui soit, les problèmes les plus emblématiques du domaine de ce qu’il est convenu d’appeler “l’électrodynamique classique dans la matière”. Dans un premier temps, nous avons cherché à répondre à la question simple et fondamentale suivante: un certain nombre de points expérimentaux étant donnés trouver une procédure qui permette d'obtenir un modèle analytique pour la permittivité. Maintenant équipé d’un modèle phénoménologique pour la permittivité, on s’attache à déterminer les caractéristiques essentielles liées à la propagation d’une impulsion électromagnétique dans un milieu arbitrairement dispersif. Après quoi, nous changeons de dimension en nous attaquant aux problèmes tridimensionnels. Nous commençons par l’étude du champ électromagnétique diffusé par une particle chargée ponctuelle oscillant à une fréquence fixe donnée, et placée à côté d’un objet. La dernière partie est une partie plus pratique où l'on aborde des problèmes qui touchent à la technologie. Chercher les résonances de structures ouvertes n’est pas une mince affaire et met en scène des résonances dans le plan complexe. Ici on détermine à la main les QNM (Quasi-Normal Modes) d’une cavité Fabry-Pérot. / The study of the interaction between electromagnetic pulses with dispersive and possible passive materials has a long tradition that can be traced, at least, to the works of Sommerfeld and Brillouin. As time has passed many scientist have contribute to a better understanding of this kind of phenomena. However some well established concepts need to be revisited and some questions remain open. The aim of this thesis is then, to tackle in a very systematic way, some of the most representative problems in this area that has been called “classical electrodynamics in matter”: I) We have developed a mathematical procedure that allows to find analytical models that in the frequency domain fulfils two fundamental physical properties: reality in time domain and causality. II) Our second task is to determine the velocity of an electromagnetic pulse that propagates in a highly dispersive medium. III) The problem of describing the electromagnetic field generated by an oscillating charge and itsinteraction with some dispersive 3D-object is also studied. The first part deals with the pure description of an EM field generated by arbitrary charge density $\rho$ and corresponding current density $j$. Second part is related to the interaction of this polyharmonic EM field and a dispersive object (a sphere). IV) Finding the resonant frequencies and consequently the resonant modes is a well known problem in physics, when the fields are not strictly confined and can leak to the whole universe we can say that we are dealing with Quasi Normal Modes (QNMs). In this thesis we give a brief and straightforward way of deriving the QNMs of a Fabry-Perot cavity.