TOPICAL REVIEW Inverse scattering series and seismic exploration

This paper presents an overview and a detailed description of the key logic steps and mathematical-physics framework behind the development of practical algorithms for seismic exploration derived from the inverse scattering series. There are both significant symmetries and critical subtle differences between the forward scattering series construction and the inverse scattering series processing of seismic events. These similarities and differences help explain the efficiency and effectiveness of different inversion objectives. The inverse series performs all of the tasks associated with inversion using the entire wavefield recorded on the measurement surface as input. However, certain terms in the series act as though only one specific task,and no other task, existed. When isolated, these terms constitute a task-specific subseries. We present both the rationale for seeking and methods of identifying uncoupled task-specific subseries that accomplish: (1) free-surface multiple removal; (2) internal multiple attenuation; (3) imaging primaries at depth; and (4) inverting for eart