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A first‐motion alternative to Geometrical Ray Theory
Author(s) -
Chapman C. H.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl003i003p00153
Subject(s) - motion (physics) , high frequency approximation , physics , geometrical optics , classical mechanics , wavenumber , mathematical analysis , mathematics , optics , scattering
An alternative to geometrical ray theory is obtained. This first‐motion approximation is more generally valid than geometrical ray theory. The approximation had previously been obtained using the generalized and quantized ray theories, but can also be derived from the more usual wavenumber‐frequency integral method. The first‐motion approximation is useful not only when geometrical ray theory is valid, but also at caustics and shadows.