Dictionary:Ricker wavelet
(rik’ ∂r) A zero-phase wavelet, the second derivative of the Gaussian function or the third derivative of the normal-probability density function. A Ricker wavelet is often used as a zero-phase embedded wavelet in modeling and synthetic seismogram manufacture. See Figure R-14. Named for Norman H. Ricker (1896–1980), American geophysicist.
FIG. R-14. Ricker wavelet. (a) Time-domain and (b) frequency-domain representations.
The amplitude f(t) of the Ricker wavelet with peak frequency fM at time t is given by,
- .
The frequency domain representation of the wavelet is given by,
Where,
- and .
The mean frequency and the median frequency .
Sometimes the period (somewhat erroneously referred to occasionally as the wavelength) is given as 1/f, but since it has mixed frequencies, this is not quite correct, and for some wavelets is not even a good approximation. In fact, the Ricker wavelet has its sidelobe minima at
These minima have the value