Fermat's interferometric principle for target-oriented traveltime tomography

Gerard T. Schuster*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

An interferometric form of Fermat's principle is derived that allows for high-resolution estimation of the velocity distribution between deep interfaces. The data consist of reflection traveltimes from two deeply buried interfaces A and B recorded by sources and caused by receivers at the surface. Fermat's interferometric principle is then used to kinematically redatum the surface sources and receivers to interface A so that the associated reflection times correspond to localized transit times between the A and B interfaces. The velocity model above interface A does not need to be known, so the distorting effects of the overburden and statics are eliminated by this target-oriented approach. Interferometric target-oriented tomography promises to enhance the resolution of whole-earth and exploration tomograms.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)U47-U50
JournalGeophysics
Volume70
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2005
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geochemistry and Petrology

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