SYNTHETIC SEISMOGRAMS FROM GENERALIZED RAY-TRACING

A new method of numerical computation of elastic wavefields in regions containing caustics is tested. The method is an extension of the asym ptotic ray theory (ART). The essential features of the method consist of the application of expressions which are well defined at caustics a nd expressed in terms of ray tracing combined with complex ray tracing in caustic shadows. The method and an outline of the underlying theor y are briefly presented, followed by a comparison with finite differen ces on a test model involving a caustic cusp. The comparison reveals t he unexpectedly high degree of accuracy of the new method.