On the Marchenko equation for multicomponent single-sided reflection data

Abstract

Abstract Recent work on the Marchenko equation has shown that the scalar 3-D Green's function for a virtual source in the subsurface can be retrieved from the single-sided reflection response at the surface and an estimate of the direct arrival. Here, we discuss the first steps towards extending this result to multicomponent data. After introducing a unified multicomponent 3-D Green's function representation, we analyse its 1-D version for elastodynamic waves in more detail. It follows that the main additional requirement is that the multicomponent direct arrival, needed to initiate the iterative solution of the Marchenko equation, includes the forward-scattered field. Under this and other conditions, the multicomponent Green's function can be retrieved from single-sided reflection data, and this is demonstrated with a 1-D numerical example.