Inverse Scattering of Seismic Data in the Reverse Time Migration (rtm) Approach

Abstract. In this paper, we revisit the reverse-time imaging procedure. We discuss an inverse scattering transform derived from reverse-time migration (RTM), and establish its relation with generalized Radon transform inversion. In the process, the explicit evaluation of the so-called normal operator is avoided, at the cost of introducing other pseudodifferential operator factors. Using techniques from microlocal analysis, we explain the recently discussed RTM ‘artifacts’ and provide a method to remove them. We present a seamless integration of reverse-time imaging with downward-continuation based imaging, and establish an explicit relation between RTM and interferometry, and what is sometimes referred to as the ‘virtual-source’ method.