Introduction

Because of the limitations of our seismic survey profile and computer core size, we can only solve the infinite domain wave equation on a finite domain. The computational edges we introduce generate artificial reflections. These reflections, when propagated inward, mask the true solution of the problem. So we must establish absorbing boundary conditions through which the waves propagate with as little reflection as possible.

The subject of absorbing boundary conditions has been extensively studied by many authors, e. g. , Clayton et al. (1977), Reynolds (1978) for modeling, and Clayton et al. (1980) for migration. In this paper we present a method to derive absorbing boundary conditions by directly evaluating the edge reflection coefficient. The method can be used to find absorbing boundary conditions for both modeling and migration equations. And we display numerical results for each.