Phase-velocity inversion from data-based diffraction kernels: seismic Michelson interferometer

We propose a new surface wave tomography approach that benefits from densely sampled active-source arrays and brings together elements from active-source seismic-wave interferometry, full waveform inversion and dense-array processing. In analogy with optical interferometry, seismic Michelson interferometer (SMI) uses seismic interference patterns given by the data-based diffraction kernels in an iterative inversion scheme to image a medium. SMI requires no traveltime measurements and no spatial regularization, and it accounts for bent rays. Furthermore, the method does not need computation of complex synthetic models, as it works as a data-driven inversion technique that makes it computationally very fast. In an automatic way, it provides high-resolution phase-velocity maps and their error estimation. SMI can complete traditional surface wave tomography studies, as its use can be easily extended from land active seismic data to the virtual source gathers of ambient-noise-based studies with dense arrays.

Automated summary

The proposed method utilizes densely sampled active-source arrays and combines elements from active-source seismic-wave interferometry, full waveform inversion, and dense-array processing. The seismic Michelson interferometer (SMI) can iteratively invert the medium without the need for travel time measurements or spatial regularization, providing high-resolution phase-velocity maps and error estimation efficiently. It can be applied to traditional surface wave tomography studies and easily extended to virtual source gathers of ambient-noise-based studies with dense arrays.