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For two Fourier elastic wave fields with the same real elastic stiffness tensor, its major symmetry cancels the cross-strain terms in the divergence displayed above. The force-balance equations supply the remaining volume terms, and the divergence theorem gives their boundary integral of reciprocal tractions. Taking one field to be a complex conjugate gives energy-work identities and weighted modal orthogonality. The bilinear identity uses no complex conjugation until that field is chosen explicitly.

For a plane material-coordinate elastic wave with $u=(0,w(X_1,t),0)$, set $q=w_{,X_1}$. The longitudinal equation is $0={\partial }_{X_1}{P}_{11}(1,q,0)$. Arbitrary nonuniform pure transverse profiles thus require the displayed constitutive compatibility, which does not follow from isotropy alone. If it holds and ${\tau }^{\prime }(q)>0$, the shear equation closes as ${\rho }_0{w}_{tt}={\partial }_{X_1}\tau (q)$ with speed $c(q{)}^2={\tau }^{\prime }(q)/{\rho }_0$.

The unit-time elastic wave surface is the locus of group velocities on the three branches of a homogeneous elastic wave. At time $t$, its scaled sheets describe the propagating wavefronts from an impulsive point source when that source excites the corresponding modes. Homogeneity of the dispersion relation gives $\mathbf{p}\cdot \mathbf{g}=1$, so each regular sheet is the envelope of planes $\mathbf{p}\cdot \mathbf{x}=1$. It is generally different from the radial reciprocal of the elastic slowness surface.

These characteristic wave amplitudes split a one-dimensional elastic wave into forward and backward components. Their instantaneous net elastic-wave energy flux is ${\varphi }_{+}^2-{\varphi }_{-}^2$. For real-part harmonic phasors the mean flux is $(|{\varphi }_{+}{|}^2-|{\varphi }_{-}{|}^2)/2$. In a static graded medium with real positive seismic impedance, put $g=(\log Z{)}^{\prime }/2$; then ${\partial }_x{\varphi }_{\pm }\pm {\beta }^{-1}{\partial }_t{\varphi }_{\pm }=g{\varphi }_{\mp }$. Seismic impedance gradients couple the two directions while preserving net flux.

Use material coordinates $X$ and write the placement as $y=X+u$. The strain energy density $W$ in the printed convention is per unit reference mass. It is convenient to use the conventional first Piola-Kirchhoff stress tensor $P=s^{\mathsf{T}}$, soAssume the undeformed reference state is stress-free. With $H=A-I$ and infinitesimal strain tensor $e=(H+H^{\mathsf{T}})/2$, material isotropy and material frame indifference give the quadratic expansionConsequently the Lamé parameters from hyperelastic energy Hessian areIndeed, differentiating the quadratic expression twice givesthe elastic stiffness tensor of linear elasticity. A prestressed reference state requires the corresponding initial-stress corrections; the displayed formula concerns the natural state.

For a plane elastic wave, $u=u(X_1,t)$, put $r=e_1+u_{,X_1}$ and $\Psi (r)=W([r,e_2,e_3])$. Balance of momentum without body force becomesThis is a material-coordinate equation: the reference density cancels between inertia and nominal stress. If $C{a}_{\alpha }=c_{\alpha }^2{a}_{\alpha }$, the first-order system has characteristic speeds $\pm c_{\alpha }$ and right eigenvectors $(a_{\alpha },\mp c_{\alpha }{a}_{\alpha })$. Along a characteristic curve with $d{X}_1/dt=s=\pm c_{\alpha }$, its differential compatibility relation isThis follows by multiplying the system by the left eigenvector $(-s{a}_{\alpha }^{\mathsf{T}},a_{\alpha }^{\mathsf{T}})$. It does not assert the existence of globally integrable Riemann invariants for an arbitrary three-component constitutive law.

There is a necessary qualification to the finite-amplitude transverse request. Set $u=(0,w,0)$ and $q=w_{,X_1}$, so $r=(1,q,0)$. The longitudinal momentum equation requiresThus arbitrary nonuniform pure transverse profiles are possible only if the compatibility condition for pure nonlinear transverse waves holds:The third component vanishes by the reflection symmetry implied by isotropy and objectivity. The shear equation then closes:

General compressible hyperelastic material assumptions alone do not imply the required compatibility. For a concrete counterexample, take the Saint Venant–Kirchhoff hyperelastic energyFor $A=[(a,q,0{)}^{\mathsf{T}},e_2,e_3]$, this becomesAt $a=1$, $P_{11}=(\lambda +2\mu )q^2/2$. A varying shear therefore produces a longitudinal force $(\lambda +2\mu )q{q}_{,X_1}$ and cannot preserve $u_1=0$. Infinitesimal transverse waves do exist, because this coupling is second order, but a general pure finite-amplitude transverse wave does not.

The compatible nonlinear shear energy class is nonempty and can be genuinely nonlinear. Define $J=\det A$, $S=\mathrm{tr}(A^{\mathsf{T}}A)-2J$, and, for $h\ge 0$, takeThis is objective and isotropic. Near $A=I$, $S-1=2\mathrm{tr}(e^2)-(\mathrm{tr}e{)}^2+O(|H{|}^3)$, so it has the specified Lamé parameters. On the plane deformation above, $S-1=(a-1{)}^2+q^2$ and $J=a$. Hence $P_{11}=0$ at $a=1$, whileFor positive $\lambda ,\mu$, the relevant incremental plane moduli are positive. This supplies an explicit stable pure transverse family and, when $h>0$, amplitude-dependent wave speed.

For any compatible family, letThe equations $q_t=v_{,X_1}$ and $v_t=c(q{)}^2{q}_{,X_1}$ give the Riemann invariantsConsider the initially undisturbed half-space $X_1>0$. A right-going simple wave has the incoming invariant $v+H=0$, so $v=-H(q)$. Denote the prescribed boundary nominal stress by $T(t)=P_{21}(0,t)=\tau (q_b(t))$. The physical boundary traction, whose outward normal is $-e_1$, is $-T(t)e_2$. Invert the monotone law $\tau$ to obtain $q_b$. The wave state emitted at boundary time $s$ is transported alongAhead of the leading front $X_1=c(0)t$ the state is zero. Before characteristic crossing, these equations determine the unique emission time $s$ for each disturbed point. The displacement itself is also determined, rather than just its derivatives:Differentiating the implicit emission relation verifies $w_{,X_1}=q_b(s)$ and $w_t=-H(q_b(s))$, so this is the complete pre-shock simple wave solution.

Write $c_b(s)=c(q_b(s))$. The boundary-generated characteristic curves lose invertibility whenThus the characteristic crossing in a boundary-generated elastic simple wave criterion isHere ${\dot{c}}_b=c^{\prime }(q_b)T^{\prime }/({\rho }_0{c}_b^2)$. A smoothly increasing boundary stress therefore steepens into a shock wave only when later states travel faster: $c^{\prime }(q_b)T^{\prime }>0$. Increasing stress alone is insufficient. For the compatible example with $h>0$ and $q_b>0$, $c^{\prime }(q_b)=3h{q}_b/({\rho }_0{c}_b)>0$, so a nonzero increasing ramp produces finite-time crossing. For $h=0$ all rays are parallel and no such shock forms. This criterion locates the first gradient singularity; subsequent discontinuous evolution additionally requires the jump conditions and an admissibility condition.

For a general vector simple wave, replace the pure-shear line by an integral curveSubstitution gives $a_t+c_{\alpha }(a)a_{,X_1}=0$, with the same emission construction and crossing criterion. Boundary tractions must lie on this one-family curve. Generic finite-amplitude quasi-transverse waves may contain longitudinal displacement; arbitrary vector boundary forcing need not generate a single simple wave.

Use the usual minor and major symmetries of the elastic stiffness tensor, positive density, and strong ellipticity in elasticity. For the plane elastic wave $u=a{e}^{ik(n\cdot x-vt)}$, substitution into momentum balance gives the acoustic tensor problemThe major symmetry makes $\Gamma$ a real symmetric matrix. Moreover $a^{\mathsf{T}}\Gamma a=c_{ijpq}{a}_i{n}_j{a}_p{n}_q>0$ for nonzero $a$ under strong ellipticity in elasticity. Hence its three eigenvalues are positive and the three positive wave speeds are real. Symmetry alone proves only reality of $v^2$: an unstable isotropic tensor with negative shear modulus has negative transverse $v^2$. The requested reality therefore uses stability as part of the physical elastic-solid assumption.

The elastic slowness surface consists of three sheets, with $s=n/v_{\alpha }(n)$, satisfyingIt is centrosymmetric. Sheets can meet at degenerate polarizations; they need not be spherical or convex in an anisotropic solid. The group velocity is normal to the corresponding smooth sheet: for a sheet tangent $ds$, differentiation of $a^{\mathsf{T}}[c_{ijpq}{s}_j{s}_q-\rho I]a=0$ gives $a_i{c}_{ijpq}{a}_p{s}_{q}d{s}_j=0$. The coefficient vector is proportional to the group velocity, so its scalar product with every tangent vanishes.

Fix horizontal slowness $p=(n_1/c,n_2/c)$ and put $q=s_3$. DefineThe symbol $p$ on a tensor index is an index, whereas $p_{\alpha }$ is a horizontal slowness component. The vertical slowness equation is the vertical slowness sextic of an anisotropic solidThe leading coefficient is $\det T>0$, so it is a degree-six polynomial with real coefficients. Nonreal roots occur in conjugate pairs, leaving between zero and six real roots counted with multiplicity. Generically the counts are $0,2,4,6$; a grazing repeated root can give an odd count of distinct real roots. Geometrically these are the intersections of a vertical line of fixed horizontal slowness with the three sheets.

All four generic counts are actually possible in a stable material. For example, take $\rho =1$ and orthotropic Voigt stiffnessesThe stiffness matrix is positive definite. For horizontal slowness $(p,0)$, the three diagonal acoustic equations areThe choices $p=0.1,0.3,0.8,1.2$ give respectively six, four, two and zero real vertical roots.

For the general depth-dependent amplitude, substitution of the horizontal harmonic factor yieldsFor six simple roots $q_{\ell }$, choose nonzero null vectors $a_{\ell }$ of the corresponding matrix. The complete solution isComplex vertical roots give evanescent waves. At defective repeated roots the usual polynomial-in-depth factors multiplying exponentials must be included, or the solution can be defined by a limiting procedure.

To classify the modes, take $x_3$ positive downwards and $\omega >0$. The reduced traction for a mode isMechanical energy crosses a plane at rate $-{\sigma }_{i3}{u}_{i,t}$. Averaging the real harmonic fields uses $⟨\mathrm{Re}(f{e}^{-i\omega t})\mathrm{Re}(g{e}^{-i\omega t})⟩=\mathrm{Re}(f{g}^{\ast })/2$. With velocity amplitude $-i\omega a_{\ell }$ and traction amplitude $i\omega b_{\ell }$, the time-averaged vertical acoustic energy flux isFor a real propagating mode, write its physical wavevector as $k=\omega (p_1,p_2,q)$. Differentiate $a^{\mathsf{T}}\Gamma (k)a=\rho \omega (k{)}^2{a}^{\mathsf{T}}a$ in $k_3$. The derivatives of $a$ cancel by the eigenvalue equation, while $a^{\mathsf{T}}({\partial }_{k_3}\Gamma )a=2\omega a^{\mathsf{T}}(Tq+R)a$. Thus its vertical group velocity and flux areThus the elastic mode classification by vertical energy flux is upgoing if $J_3<0$, downgoing if $J_3>0$. In anisotropy, the sign of vertical phase slowness alone need not classify energy propagation. For evanescent modes, select $\mathrm{Im}q>0$ for decay into a downward half-space and $\mathrm{Im}q<0$ for decay into an upward half-space. Away from grazing and degeneracy, continuation from zero horizontal slowness, with a small radiation damping if needed, separates three outgoing modes on each side. Superpose only the appropriate three to construct the most general upgoing or downgoing field; limiting modes handle exceptional cases.

For a free surface at $x_3=0$ with solid occupying $x_3>0$, let $(q_0,a_0)$ be a unit-amplitude incident upgoing mode. The reflected field consists of the three downgoing propagating or depth-decaying modes:Frequency and horizontal slowness are common to all modes, by translation invariance of the surface. Zero surface traction imposes the three equationsHence the free-surface anisotropic reflection amplitudes arewhenever $B$ is invertible. This specifies mode conversion as well as reflection. If $B$ is singular, a nonzero outgoing homogeneous surface mode exists; these are surface-wave poles, including Rayleigh waves in the isotropic case. At such parameters one must use the appropriate limiting radiation solution and check solvability instead of assuming a unique finite inverse.

Let $\Omega$ be the solid exterior to the cavity, and choose $\mathbf{n}$ outward from the solid, hence into the cavity on its boundary $S$. Subtraction of the incident solution from the total solution gives the scattered displacement field equationsThe traction-free cavity condition for the total field gives ${\sigma }_{ij}^s{n}_j=-{\sigma }_{ij}^0{n}_j$ on $S$. The scattered field has zero initial displacement and initial velocity before the pulse reaches the cavity and satisfies an outgoing radiation condition, excluding an additional incoming elastic wave. Equivalently one seeks the causal response to this prescribed boundary traction. Although the incident plane pulse extends across an infinite plane, the causal scattered field from the bounded cavity has finite propagation distance at each finite time.

To prove energy uniqueness for traction-driven elasticity, take the difference $\mathbf{w}$ of two solutions with the same initial conditions, body force, boundary traction and outgoing condition. It satisfiesFor a large enclosing ball $B_L$, multiply by ${\dot{w}}_i$ and integrate over $\Omega \cap B_L$. Integration by parts givesSymmetry of stress replaces the last derivative by ${\dot{e}}_{ij}(w)$, and major symmetry of the elastic stiffness tensor makes that integral the derivative of the strain energy. ThereforeThe cavity contribution is zero. On any fixed finite time interval choose $L$ beyond the causal support of the scattered difference; the outer contribution is then zero as well. This gives conservation of its nonnegative elastic energy. Positive mass density and positive strain energy imply that zero initial energy forces $\dot{\mathbf{w}}=0$ everywhere; the zero initial displacement field then gives $\mathbf{w}=0$. The same argument works for finite-energy outgoing solutions by taking the limit of enclosing surfaces and excluding incoming energy. Hence the causal scattered field ${\mathbf{u}}^s$ is unique. Specifying the incident field and cavity traction alone without the initial and outgoing conditions would not establish uniqueness.

Choose depth $z$ positive downwards and harmonic time dependence $e^{-i\omega t}$. At normal incidence, P waves and the two polarizations of S waves are independent scalar problems: a P wave uses the longitudinal modulus $\rho {\alpha }^2$, and an S wave uses the shear modulus $\rho {\beta }^2$. In a uniform layer with wave speed $c$ and seismic impedance $q=\rho c$, write velocity and compressive traction asAt a perfectly bonded interface the velocity and traction are continuous. For incident velocity wave amplitude one from medium 1 into medium 2, these two conditions are $1+r_v=t_v$ and $q_1(1-r_v)=q_2{t}_v$. ThusReflection is determined by seismic impedance, not by speed alone. A step to larger seismic impedance reverses the reflected velocity/displacement field waveform; the pressure reflection coefficient has the opposite sign. Its transmitted pressure coefficient is $t_p=2q_2/(q_1+q_2)$. Equal seismic impedance eliminates the reflection even when speed and wavelength change. At a free surface traction vanishes and velocity reflects with coefficient $+1$; at a rigid surface velocity reflects with coefficient $-1$.

The mean elastic-wave energy flux is $\frac{1}{2}\mathrm{Re}(P{V}^{\ast })=q(|A{|}^2-|B{|}^2)/2$ for positive real $q$. Therefore the reflected and transmitted energy fractions areA displacement field transmission coefficient greater than one is compatible with conservation of energy; its flux must be weighted by the receiving seismic impedance.

For many layers, use the seismic layer transfer matrix. A layer of thickness $h_j$ has wave phase thickness ${\delta }_j=\omega h_j/c_j$ andThis follows either by eliminating $A,B$ between the two faces or by integrating $V^{\prime }=i\omega P/(\rho c^2)$ and $P^{\prime }=i\omega \rho V$. For the complete stack put $M=M_N\cdots M_1=\left(\begin{array}{cc}A& B\\ C& D\end{array}\right)$. With upper and lower half-space impedances $q_a,q_b$, an outgoing lower wave satisfies $P_b=q_b{V}_b$. Solving this condition gives the input seismic impedanceHere $T$ is lower-face velocity divided by upper-face incident velocity, including the propagation wave phase. For lossless layers and real frequency, $|R{|}^2+(q_b/q_a)|T{|}^2=1$. This supplies a sensitive check on any spreadsheet or numerical implementation; it is not correct simply to multiply the individual interface transmissions and discard the elastic waves.

The physical reason is repeated wave interference. In one layer between media 0 and 2, let $r_{ij},t_{ij}$ denote the velocity coefficients above and $\delta =\omega h/c_1$. The first transmitted wave has wave amplitude $t_{01}{t}_{12}{e}^{i\delta }$. Every extra round trip supplies $r_{10}{r}_{12}{e}^{2i\delta }$. Summing the geometric series givesIn the time domain the successive arrivals are delayed by $2h/c_1$, producing reverberation. In the frequency domain the same delayed terms produce resonant maxima and minima. For a layer between identical half-spaces of impedance $q_0$,At $\delta =n\pi$ the layer transmits all the incident energy: the internally elastic waves cancel the direct reflection. Halfway between these resonances, a large impedance contrast gives strong reflection. For unequal exterior impedances, a quarter-wave layer with $q_1^2=q_a{q}_b$ transforms its lower load to $Z_{\mathrm{in}}=q_1^2/q_b=q_a$, again giving zero reflection at its design frequency. This matching is narrow-band.

Periodic alternation produces a periodic seismic multilayer stop band. For a cell of two layers with total thickness $d$, the cell matrix has reciprocal eigenvalues $e^{\pm iKd}$, soWhen the absolute value of this expression exceeds one, the infinite periodic medium has no propagating cell mode; a long finite stack has exponentially small transmission. The energy is reflected, not absorbed. Pass bands instead contain oscillatory transmission peaks, becoming more numerous as the stack length increases. Disorder removes the exact cell periodicity but not multiple scattering or frequency-selective interference.

For a concrete reproducible investigation, take $q_H/q_L=4$, equal one-way travel times $\tau$ in both layer types, exterior impedance $q_L$, and frequency coordinate $\nu =2\omega \tau /\pi$. At $\nu =1$ each layer is a quarter wavelength; one cell has diagonal matrix entries $-4,-1/4$. For $N$ cells,It is about $0.22145$ for one cell, $6.10\times 10^{-5}$ for four cells and $9.31\times 10^{-10}$ for eight cells. The infinite-cell stop band is $2\arcsin (0.8)/\pi <\nu <2-2\arcsin (0.8)/\pi$. The accompanying calculation also shows the first transmitted arrivals for a single high-impedance slab: their wave amplitudes are $0.64(0.36{)}^n$ at times $(2n+1)\tau$. Their sum is one, consistent with unit zero-frequency transmission. These calculations illustrate both the spectrum and the pulse train without assuming access to the course's spreadsheet.

Finally, as $\omega \to 0$ for a fixed finite stack, every $M_j\to I$, so the response approaches that of a direct interface between the exterior half-spaces. Equal exterior impedances give $R\to 0,T\to 1$. For wavelengths much longer than a repeating cell, expansion of $M_j$ to first order instead gives an effective medium with averaged mass density ${\rho }_{\mathrm{eff}}=\sum h_j{\rho }_j/d$ and harmonic-mean modulus $M_{\mathrm{eff}}^{-1}=\sum h_j/M_j^{\mathrm{mod}}/d$, where $M_j^{\mathrm{mod}}={\rho }_j{c}_j^2$. Its speed is $\sqrt{M_{\mathrm{eff}}/{\rho }_{\mathrm{eff}}}$, not generally the arithmetic mean of the layer speeds. Attenuation makes the energy balance an inequality, while for a fixed oblique horizontal slowness the scalar SH calculation uses $q_j={\mu }_j{p}_{\beta ,j}$ and ${\delta }_j=\omega p_{\beta ,j}{h}_j$. Oblique P-SV waves require coupled displacement field and traction matrices because of mode conversion at a planar elastic interface. Thick evanescent layers require scattering or impedance recursion rather than exponentially ill-conditioned transfer-matrix products.

Use local coordinates with the interface $z=0$, solid below and fluid above, and choose the P-SV displacement potentials convention $u_x={\varphi }_x-{\psi }_z$, $u_z={\varphi }_z+{\psi }_x$. Let the reflected P and SV potential wave amplitudes be $A,B$, while the transmitted P wave amplitude is $T_P$. All four waves have the same tangential slownessThe incident and transmitted retarded times have negative $q_{P}z,q_{f}z$, while elastic waves have positive $q_{P}z,q_{S}z$. At the interface all waveform derivatives therefore have the same argument. displacement field continuity givesWith Lamé parameters $\mu =\rho {\beta }^2$ and $\lambda =\rho ({\alpha }^2-2{\beta }^2)$, the shear and normal stresses follow directly from differentiation:The fluid has no shear traction, so the coefficient of $f^{\prime \prime }$ in ${\sigma }_{xz}$ must vanish:The coefficient of $f^{\prime \prime }$ in the solid stress is $\rho [\cos 2{\theta }_S(1+A)-\sin 2{\theta }_{S}B]$; in the fluid it is ${\rho }_f{T}_P$. ThusThese are the three required matching conditions; tangential displacement field need not be continuous at a solid–inviscid-fluid boundary.

Put $C=\cos 2{\theta }_S$ and $X=1-A$. From (2), $B=({\beta }^2/{\alpha }^2)(\sin 2{\theta }_P/C)X$. In (1), the coefficient of $X$ simplifies because $C+2({\beta }^2/{\alpha }^2){\sin }^2{\theta }_P=1$. Hence $X=(\alpha C\cos {\theta }_f)/({\alpha }_f\cos {\theta }_P)T_P$. Substitute this into (3) to obtainTherefore the solid-fluid P-wave transmission coefficient isDivision by $C$ was only an elimination device; the final expression extends continuously to $C=0$. The normal-incidence value is $2\rho {\alpha }_f/(\rho \alpha +{\rho }_f{\alpha }_f)$. This is a potential coefficient; longitudinal displacement field transmission additionally multiplies it by $\alpha /{\alpha }_f$. The original PDF's bracket lies in the denominator and contains ${\beta }^2/{\alpha }^2$ and $\cos {\theta }_f$. The converted TeX misplaces the bracket, substitutes ${\theta }^2$ for ${\beta }^2$, and loses the final cosine.

Assume the coefficients are sufficiently differentiable in the region considered, with no material discontinuity or caustic at the front. Let $t=T(\mathbf{x})$ describe arrival time, $\mathbf{p}=\nabla T$ the slowness vector, and $\mathbf{n}$ the unit elastic wave propagation normal. For any field, its jump is the value immediately behind the front minus that immediately ahead. If the first nonzero jump occurs in the kth time derivative, $k\ge 2$, writeA smooth background may be added without changing these leading jumps. Since $F_j^{\prime }=F_{j-1}$, differentiation expresses spatial jumps in terms of $p_j$ and time-derivative jumps. The restriction $k\ge 2$ lets displacement field and its first time derivative remain continuous and avoids an imposed impulsive source at the front.

Insert this local expansion in $\rho {\partial }_t^2{u}_i={\partial }_j(c_{ijpq}{\partial }_p{u}_q)$. The coefficient of $F_{k-2}$ isFor isotropic elasticity the slowness acoustic matrix is $\mu |\mathbf{p}{|}^{2}I+(\lambda +\mu )\mathbf{p}{\mathbf{p}}^T$. Its longitudinal eigenvalue is $(\lambda +2\mu )|\mathbf{p}{|}^2$. The P branch therefore gives the eikonal equation and polarizationThe next coefficient, $F_{k-1}$, isThe matrix on the left is symmetric and annihilates $\mathbf{n}$. Project onto $n_i$ to obtain its solvability condition. Put $a=a^{[k]}$. The two projected terms can be evaluated without dropping gradients of mass density or moduli:These identities use $|\mathbf{n}{|}^2=1$, hence $n_q{\partial }_p{n}_q=0$, and $(\lambda +2\mu )/\alpha =\rho \alpha$. Their curvature terms cancel, leavingMultiplying by $a$ proves the requested P-wavefront discontinuity transport law,The wave amplitude here is real for a real jump; a complex wave amplitude uses the corresponding modulus-squared law. An elastic ray follows $d\mathbf{x}/ds=\mathbf{n}$, with arclength $s$ and $dt/ds=1/\alpha$. If $J$ is the infinitesimal cross-sectional area of a neighboring ray tube, $d\log J/ds=\nabla \cdot \mathbf{n}$. Thus $\rho \alpha a^{2}J$ is constant along that tube, the ray-tube conservation for a P-wave jump. This defines the geometrical spreading and shows why the wave amplitude changes with material properties even before attenuation is considered. At a caustic the simple ray-tube wave amplitude is singular and a uniform local description is needed.

Substitute the harmonic plane waveinto the elastic wave equation. The vector identitygivesIf $\mathbf{A}$ is parallel to $\mathbf{K}$, this becomesand gives a longitudinal P wave. If $\mathbf{A}\cdot \mathbf{K}=0$, it becomesand gives either polarization of an S wave.