Boundary conditions for the numerical solution of wave propagation problems

Abstract

Many finite difference models in use for generating synthetic seismograms produce unwanted reflections from the edges of the model due to the use of Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions. In this paper we develop boundary conditions which greatly reduce this edge reflection. A reflection coefficient analysis is given which indicates that, for the specified boundary conditions, smaller reflection coefficients than those obtained for Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions are obtained. Numerical calculations support this conclusion.