Consistency of the inverse scattering imaging condition, the energy norm imaging condition and the impedance kernel in acoustic and elastic reverse-time migration

Abstract

In this work, we draw connections between the imaging conditions using the impedance kernel, the inverse scattering imaging condition, and the energy norm imaging condition in acoustic and elastic reverse-time migration (RTM). Traditional RTM often introduces large low-wavenumber artifacts that degrade image quality in intricate geological structures with large velocity variations. In practice, the Laplacian filter is commonly used to remove these low-wavenumber artifacts, but it changes the image wavenumber spectrum. The advanced imaging conditions of the inverse scattering, the energy norm, and the impedance kernel can effectively remove the low-wavenumber artifacts while not changing the wavenumber spectrum. This study aims to build a connection between these three types of imaging conditions by conducting detailed analysis in the wavenumber domain for acoustic and elastic RTMs. We find that they are exactly the same except for the varying weights of the source-receiver wavefield cross-correlation. All three imaging conditions can generate clear RTM images that are not affected by low-wavenumber artifacts. Numerical examples for a simple model, Sigsbee 2a, and BP models verify the consistency of these three imaging conditions and show their advantage over conventional simple zero-lag cross-correlation imaging conditions. This is important for improving the quality and reliability of seismic imaging technology.