Difference between revisions of "Dictionary:Eikonal equation"
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{{lowercase}}{{#category_index:E|eikonal equation}} | {{lowercase}}{{#category_index:E|eikonal equation}} | ||
− | (ī kōn’ ∂l) (from Greek <math> \iota \kappa o \nu </math> (ikon) meaning ''image''. An equation derived from the wave equation through the substitution of a harmonic wave trial solution into the wave equation. In one form of the eikonal equation seen in physics literature, | + | (ī kōn’ ∂l) (from Greek <math> \iota \kappa o \nu </math> (ikon) meaning ''image''. An equation derived from the wave equation through the substitution of a harmonic wave trial solution into the wave equation. In one form of the eikonal equation seen in physics literature, the local velocity <math> V </math> is compared to a reference velocity <math> V_R </math>(analogous to comparing a velocity to the speed of light in vacuum): |
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Solutions to the eikonal equation yield a high-frequency or large-wavenumber asymptotic representation of the wave field as a family of rays, represented by ray position and ray direction---the so-called ''kinematic'' aspect of wave propagation. | Solutions to the eikonal equation yield a high-frequency or large-wavenumber asymptotic representation of the wave field as a family of rays, represented by ray position and ray direction---the so-called ''kinematic'' aspect of wave propagation. | ||
− | Another form of the eikonal equation is written in terms of the ray direction vector <math> \mathbf{p} = (p_1,p_2, p_3) </math> where | + | Another form of the eikonal equation is written in terms of the ray direction vector <math> \mathbf{p} = (p_1,p_2, p_3) </math> where the gradient of traveltime (or ''slowness'') vector |
<math> p_i = \frac{\partial \phi}{\partial x_i} </math> for <math> i = 1, 2, 3 </math> | <math> p_i = \frac{\partial \phi}{\partial x_i} </math> for <math> i = 1, 2, 3 </math> | ||
Revision as of 11:57, 10 June 2015
(ī kōn’ ∂l) (from Greek (ikon) meaning image. An equation derived from the wave equation through the substitution of a harmonic wave trial solution into the wave equation. In one form of the eikonal equation seen in physics literature, the local velocity is compared to a reference velocity (analogous to comparing a velocity to the speed of light in vacuum):
where is an index of refraction and the quantity is identified as wave
propagation phase advance function, which is the travel time of a point on a wave front. The use of index of refraction reflects
the physicists' desire to work in dimensionless coordinates.
More commonly in geophysical literature, the eikonal equation (for scalar waves) is written in terms of medium velocity only where , as
Solutions to the eikonal equation yield a high-frequency or large-wavenumber asymptotic representation of the wave field as a family of rays, represented by ray position and ray direction---the so-called kinematic aspect of wave propagation.
Another form of the eikonal equation is written in terms of the ray direction vector where the gradient of traveltime (or slowness) vector for
thus are the generalized coordinates and are the generalized momenta from Hamiltonian mechanics, and the eikonal equation corresponds to the Hamiltonian function or the Hamilton-Jacobi equation of analytical mechanics.