Abstract
Because of its simple form, a bandlimited, four-parameter anelastic model that yields nearly constant midband Q for low-loss materials is often used for calculating synthetic seismograms. The four parameters used in the literature to characterize anelastic behavior are τ1, τ2, Qm, and MR in the relaxation-function approach (s1 = 1/τ1 and s2 = 1/τ2 are angular frequencies defining the bandwidth, MR is the relaxed modulus, and Qm is approximately the midband quality factor when Qm ≫ 1); or τ1, τ2, Qm, and MR in the creep-function approach (s1 = 1/τ1 and s2 = 1/τ2 are angular frequencies defining the bandwidth, and Qm is approximately the midband quality factor when Qm ≫ 1). In practice, it is often the case that, for a particular medium, the quality factor Q(ω0) and phase velocity c(ω0) at an angular frequency ω0 (s1 < ω0 < s2; s1 < ω0 < s2) are known from field measurements. If values are assigned to τ1 and τ2 (τ2 < τ1), or to τ1 and τ2 (τ2 < τ1), then the two remaining parameters, Qm and MR, or Qm and MR, can be obtained from Q(ω0). However, for highly attenuative media, e.g., Q(ω0) ≦ 5, Q(ω) can become highly skewed and negative at low frequencies (for the relaxation-function approach) or at high frequencies (for the creep-function approach) if this procedure is followed. A negative Q(ω) is unacceptable because it implies an increase in energy for waves propagating in a homogeneous and attenuative medium. This article shows that given (τ1, τ2, ω0) or (τ1, τ2, ω0), a lower limit of Q(ω0) exists for a bandlimited, four-parameter anelastic model. In the relaxation-function approach, the minimum permissible Q(ω0) is given by ln [(1 + ω20τ21)/(1 + ω20τ22)]/{2 arctan [ω0(τ1 − τ2)/(1 + ω20τ1τ2)]}. In the creep-function approach, the minimum permissible Q(ω0) is given by {2 ln (τ1/τ2) − ln [(1 + ω20τ21)/(1 + ω20τ22)]}/{2 arctan [ω0(τ1 − τ2)/(1 + ω20τ1τ2)]}. The more general statement that, for a given set of relaxation mechanisms, a lower limit exists for Q(ω0) is also shown to hold. Because a nearly constant midband Q cannot be achieved for highly attenuative media using a four-parameter anelastic model, a bandlimited, six-parameter anelastic model that yields a nearly constant midband Q for such media is devised; an expression for the minimum permissible Q(ω0) is given. Six-parameter anelastic models with quality factors Q ∼ 5 and Q ∼ 16, constant to 6% over the frequency range 0.5 to 200 Hz, illustrate this result. In conformity with field observations that Q(ω) for near-surface earth materials is approximately constant over a wide frequency range, the bandlimited, six-parameter anelastic models are suitable for modeling wave propagation in highly attenuative media for bandlimited time functions in engineering and exploration seismology.
Modelling of the wave fields by the modification of the matrix method in anisotropic media
