Slowness and Reflection Coefficient Curves for Laterally Heterogeneous Media

The kinematical aspects of wave propagation are often analysed using slowness curves, which are well-known not only for isotropic media but also for anisotropic ones. The dynamical aspects are often analysed using reflection coefficient curves which are also well-known for both isotopic and anisotropic media. However, those curves are known for either fully or laterally homogenous rather than heterogeneous media. We generate and analyse those curves in a heterogeneous medium and find that the velocity-normalised slowness curves or cosine-sine curves deviate from the classical circular shape in the homogeneous situation. The deviation is dependent on frequency and hence those curves are dispersive, unlike their counterparts for homogenous media. The reflection coefficient curves also exhibit such deviation from the classical situation involving two homogeneous half spaces. Such deviation in reflection coefficient curves would have an impact on AVO/AVA analysis.