A collision theory of seismic waves applied to elastic VSP data

Kristopher A. Innanen, Kevin W. Hall

In previous CREWES reports we have been assembling a theory for seismic wave propagation which is based on particles with well-defined momenta and masses colliding in-elastically. Here we discuss some early arguments towards applying this collision picture to elastic VSP data, such that it describes elastic processes, such as conversions. We choose a candidate reflection in the Husky Cold Lake 3C walkaway VSP data set, as discussed by Hall et al. in the 2012 CREWES Report, which has clear evidence of P-P interactions and P-S conversions, and report on the beginning of our attempts to validate the collision model.