Wavefield Propagation

Forward Wavefield Through a Velocity Model

Felix J. Herrmann

Schools of EAS, CSE, ECE — Georgia Institute of Technology

2026-03-04

Velocity Model & Shot Gather

Velocity model

Shot gather

Forward Wavefield - Step 1

Velocity model

Forward wavefield

Forward Wavefield - Step 2

Velocity model

Forward wavefield

Forward Wavefield - Step 3

Velocity model

Forward wavefield

Forward Wavefield - Step 4

Velocity model

Forward wavefield

Forward Wavefield - Step 5

Velocity model

Forward wavefield

Forward Wavefield - Step 6

Velocity model

Forward wavefield

Forward Wavefield - Step 7

Velocity model

Forward wavefield

Forward Wavefield - Step 8

Velocity model

Forward wavefield

Forward Wavefield - Step 9

Velocity model

Forward wavefield

RTM Imaging - Step 1

Correlation integral

Forward wavefield

Shot gather

Adjoint wavefield

RTM Imaging - Step 2

Correlation integral

Forward wavefield

Shot gather

Adjoint wavefield

RTM Imaging - Step 3

Correlation integral

Forward wavefield

Shot gather

Adjoint wavefield

RTM Imaging - Step 4

Correlation integral

Forward wavefield

Shot gather

Adjoint wavefield

RTM Imaging - Step 5

Correlation integral

Forward wavefield

Shot gather

Adjoint wavefield

RTM Imaging - Step 6

Correlation integral

Forward wavefield

Shot gather

Adjoint wavefield

RTM Imaging - Step 7

Correlation integral

Forward wavefield

Shot gather

Adjoint wavefield

RTM Imaging - Step 8

Correlation integral

Forward wavefield

Shot gather

Adjoint wavefield

RTM Imaging - Step 9

Correlation integral

Forward wavefield

Shot gather

Adjoint wavefield

Reverse-Time Migration — Result

RTM image

Complex Velocity Model

Velocity model

Forward Wavefield — \(\mathbf{u}\)

Forward wavefield propagation

Adjoint Wavefield — \(\mathbf{v}\)

Adjoint (backward) wavefield propagation

Source Correlation — Source 1

Correlation for source 1

Source Correlation — Source 2

Correlation for source 2

Source Correlation — Source 3

Correlation for source 3

Source Correlation — Source 4

Correlation for source 4

Stacked Correlation

Correlation stack across all sources