# Destructive and constructive interference for a wedge

Series Geophysical References Series Problems in Exploration Seismology and their Solutions Lloyd P. Geldart and Robert E. Sheriff 6 181 - 220 http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/1.9781560801733 ISBN 9781560801153 SEG Online Store

## Problem

Figures 6.17a show three reflections, where the second and third reflections are from the top and bottom of wedges that converge to the right. Explain why waves in Figure 6.17a(i) interfere destructively and in Figure 6.17a(ii) constructively when the wedge thickness is ${\displaystyle {\frac {1}{4}}\lambda }$.

### Solution

In Figure 6.17a(i) both reflections from the wedge have the same polarity. As the reflectors converge, at a thickness of ${\displaystyle {\frac {1}{4}}\lambda }$ (2-way distance ${\displaystyle {\frac {1}{4}}\lambda }$) one half-cycle of the wavelet reflected from the base interferes destructively with the next half-cycle from the top. In Figure 6.17a(ii), where a phase reversal occurs on reflection at one surface but not at the other surface, the reflections from the top and base of the wedge interfere constructively at ${\displaystyle {\frac {1}{4}}\lambda }$ thickness (before they undergo destructive interference as they converge further). Note that timing the peaks or troughs does not give the correct traveltimes to the respective interfaces where the thickness is ${\displaystyle <{\frac {1}{4}}\lambda }$ (about 8 ms in Figure 6.17a).