Scattering of Elastic Waves by Small Inhomogeneities

Abstract

The scattering of elastic waves by a randomly inhomogeneous medium has been studied. The mean‐square amplitudes of the scattered waves averaged over a statistical ensemble of inhomogeneities are calculated. The space‐correlation functions of the elastic parameters are assumed to be Gaussian and isotropic. Terms of the second order in the variation of the elastic parameters from their means are neglected. The theory has been applied to the scattering of plane P and S waves in an inhomogeneous medium of infinite extent. The results give the amount of the P wave that is transformed into shear waves and vice versa. The fluctuations in phase and amplitude of the transmitted waves are also computed.