Ray-tube conservation for a P-wave jump ($\rho \alpha (a^{[k]}{)}^{2}J=\text{constant}$)

A tube of neighboring elastic rays follows the wavefront normal. If $J$ is its infinitesimal transverse area, its expansion is $d\log J/ds=\nabla \cdot \mathbf{n}$ along arclength. The P-wavefront discontinuity transport law therefore gives the displayed conserved flux. Geometrical spreading, mass density and wave speed determine the leading jump wave amplitude together; the rule is valid before the ray tube reaches a caustic.