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10.1190/GEO2014-0441.1
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Yanghua Wang1
Manuscript received by the Editor 20 September 2014; revised manuscript received 11 November 2014; published online 2 February 2015.
1
Imperial College London, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Centre for Reservoir Geophysics, London, UK. E-mail: yanghua.wang@imperial
.ac.uk.
© 2015 Society of Exploration Geophysicists. All rights reserved.
A31
A32 Wang
pffiffiffi
(Berkhout, 1984; Cohen and Lee, 1989, 1990; Gram-Hansen, 1991; 1 1 2 2 1 1 e
Barnes, 1993). In this paper, however, we prove that the standard − ωp τ exp − ω2p τ2 ¼ : (2)
2 4 2 4 4
deviation is not the half-bandwidth of the Ricker wavelet. We derive
the relationship between the frequency bandwidth, which is a theo- This is the inverse exponential equation,
retical parameter, and the standard deviation, which is a statistical
quantity evaluated from either the power spectrum or the amplitude z exp z ¼ x;
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(3)
spectrum of the Ricker wavelet.
In geophysical analysis, frequency quantities such as the central fre- pffiffiffi
quency and the bandwidth can be used to describe seismic resolution, where x ¼ 14 e and z ¼ 12 − 14 ω2p τ2 . The solution of this special
and changes in these quantities can be exploited to measure the attenu- equation is
ation coefficients of subsurface media. However, field seismic signa-
z ¼ WðxÞ; (4)
tures might differ from the Ricker wavelet, the second derivative of a
Gaussian. If they are close to fractional derivatives of a Gaussian, their
where WðxÞ is the Lambert W function, displayed in Figure 1
spectra could be similar to the Ricker amplitude spectrum. In this pa-
(Wang, 2015).
per, we will see that the power spectrum, rather than the amplitude
By solving equation 2, we may obtain the half-breadth of the
spectrum, of the Ricker wavelet is close to a Gaussian distribution. Ricker wavelet, as
sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
pffiffiffi
THE RICKER WAVELET 2 1 e
τb ¼ −W : (5)
ωp 2 4
The Ricker wavelet is defined in the time domain as
According to the Lambert W function in Figure 1, when
1 1 pffiffiffi pffiffiffi
rðτÞ ¼ 1 − ω2p τ2 exp − ω2p τ2 ; (1) x ¼ 14 e ≈ 0.41218, Wð14 eÞ ≈ 0.304101. Therefore, the half-
2 4 breadth of the Ricker wavelet is
where τ is time (in seconds) and ωp is the most energetic frequency 0.88521
τb ≈ : (6)
(in radians per second). It is symmetric in the time domain and has a ωp
zero mean, as ∫ ∞ −∞ rðτÞdτ ¼ 0.
The Ricker wavelet rðτÞ is normalized to unity. The breadth of For a sample Ricker wavelet shown in Figure 2a, defined arbi-
this wavelet is defined by the time duration at one-half of the wave trarily to have its most energetic angular frequency at 60π rad∕s
peak, rðτÞ ¼ 12, which leads to the equation (equivalent to the ordinary frequency of 30 Hz), the full-time
breadth is 2τb ≈ 9.4 ms. This time quantity of the arbitrarily chosen
30-Hz wavelet might provide us with an insight on the time-domain
seismic resolution limit.
As is known, the Ricker wavelet is the second derivative of a 1
Gaussian function. Although the amplitude spectrum of a Gaussian W0 − ≈ −0.231961;
2e
is still a Gaussian distribution, the amplitude spectrum of the Ricker
wavelet is the Gaussian distribution multiplied by a factor ω2 and 1
W −1 − ≈ −2.67835. (15)
thus is asymmetric in the frequency domain. Hence, the peak fre- 2e
quency is different from the central frequency, the geometric center
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of the frequency band. As noted for the first time by Wang (2015), Hence, the frequency quantities are
the definition of the frequency band and the central frequency of a
Ricker wavelet can be expressed in terms of the Lambert W func- ðωl1 ; ωl2 Þ ≈ ð0.481623ωp ; 1.636567ωp Þ;
tion. These results are summarized here for the sake of com- ωc ≈ 1.059095ωp ;
pleteness.
For the amplitude spectrum of the Ricker wavelet, the peak is ωb ≈ 0.577472ωp : (16)
pffiffiffi
Rðωp Þ ¼ 2ðe π ωp Þ−1 . The frequency band is measured at a half
of this maximum as For the sample Ricker wavelet defined with the peak angular
frequency of ωp ≈ 188.5 rad∕s, the full frequency band is 2ωb ≈
1 217.7 rad∕s (Figure 2b).
RðωÞ ¼ pffiffiffi ; (9)
e π ωp
FREQUENCY QUANTITIES EVALUATED USING
which leads to the inverse exponential equation THE POWER SPECTRUM
ω2 ω2 1 For a practical application when we have discrete frequency spec-
− 2 exp − 2 ¼ − ; (10) trum of seismic data, we can statistically evaluate the mean fre-
ωp ωp 2e
quency rather than the central frequency. The formulas for
evaluating the mean frequency and the standard deviation, based
with a solution expressed in terms of the Lambert W function: on the power spectrum, are
R∞
ω2 1 ωR2 ðωÞdω
− 2 ¼W − : (11) ωm ¼ R0 ∞ 2 ;
ωp 2e 0 R ðωÞdω
R ∞
ðω − ωm Þ2 R2 ðωÞdω 1∕2
The Lambert W function has two branches W −1 ðxÞ for WðxÞ ≤ −1 ωσ ¼ 0 R ∞ 2 ; (17)
0 R ðωÞdω
and W 0 ðxÞ for WðxÞ ≥ −1, separated at point (−e−1 , −1), denoted
by a cross in Figure 1. Then, the frequency band [ωl1 , ωl2 ] is
given by
sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
ffi
1
ωl1 ¼ ωp −W 0 − ;
2e
sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
1
ωl2 ¼ ωp −W −1 − : (12)
2e
sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
ffi sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
ωp 1 1
ωc ¼ −W 0 − þ −W −1 − ; (13)
2 2e 2e
sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
ffi
ωp 1 1
ωb ¼ −W −1 − − −W 0 − : (14)
2 2e 2e
Figure 2. (a) Ricker wavelet rðτÞ, where τ is time. The breadth of
the wavelet is 2τb . (b) Frequency spectrum RðωÞ, where ω is the
Numerical approximations of W 0 ðxÞ and W −1 ðxÞ for x ¼ angular frequency of wavelet rðτÞ. The central frequency is ωc ,
−ð2eÞ−1 are and the bandwidth is 2ωb .
A34 Wang
where R2 ðωÞ is the power spectrum of the Ricker wavelet. Because For the sample Ricker wavelet defined with the peak angular
the Ricker wavelet is real valued, we only consider the frequency frequency of ωp ≈ 188.5 rad∕s, the mean frequency is ωm ≈
range from zero to positive infinite. 200.5 rad∕s, in contrast to the central frequency ωc ≈ 199.6 rad∕s,
The three definite integrals in the two expressions above are de- and two times the deviation is 2ωσ ≈ 129.6 rad∕s, in contrast to
rived in Appendix A: the full frequency band is 2ωb ≈ 217.7 rad∕s. Using the two statis-
Z tical parameters (ωm , ωσ ), we can construct an equivalent distribution
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∞ 3 in Gaussian,
D1 ¼ R2 ðωÞdω ¼ pffiffiffiffiffi ;
0 8 2π ωp
Z
∞ 1 4 1 ðω − ωm Þ2
D2 ¼ ωR2 ðωÞdω ¼ ; PðωÞ ¼ exp − −2 : (21)
0 2π πω2p 2 ω2σ
Z
∞ ωp 15 3 ωm ω 2
D3 ¼ ðω−ωm Þ2 R2 ðωÞdω ¼ pffiffiffiffiffi þ 2 − m.
0 2π 32 8 ωp π As plotted in the dashed curve in Figure 3a, this Gaussian distribution
is very close to the power spectrum of the Ricker wavelet.
(18)
Once we evaluate the mean frequency ωm and the standard der-
ivation ωσ statistically, we are able to calculate the peak frequency
Then, the mean frequency is ωp and then, following expression 16, the central frequency ωc and
rffiffiffi the half-bandwidth ωb . Because the central frequency, the mean fre-
D 4 2 quency, the half-bandwidth, and the standard derivation are all ex-
ωm ¼ 2 ¼ ω ≈ 1.063846ωp ; (19) pressed in terms of the peak frequency ωp, the relationships for
D1 3 π p
deriving the central frequency and the half-bandwidth are given by
R∞
ωRðωÞdω
ωmðaÞ ¼ R0 ∞ ;
0 RðωÞdω
R ∞
ðω − ωm Þ2 RðωÞdω 1∕2
ωσðaÞ ¼ 0 R∞ ; (23)
Figure 3. (a) Statistical frequency evaluation using the power spec- 0 RðωÞdω
trum of the Ricker wavelet. The solid vertical lines indicate the cen-
tral frequency ωc and the half-bandwidth ωb . The dashed vertical
lines are the mean frequency ωm and standard deviation ωσ . (b) Stat- where parentheses in the subscripts “ðaÞ” indicate that these
istical frequency evaluation using the amplitude spectrum. The quantities are evaluated from the amplitude spectrum. The three def-
dashed vertical lines are mean frequency ωmðaÞ and standard
deviation ωσðaÞ . The power spectrum is closer to a Gaussian distri- inite integrals in these two expressions are also derived in Appen-
bution (in the dashed curve) than the amplitude spectrum will be. dix A:
Frequencies of the Ricker wavelet A35
Z ∞ 1 CONCLUSIONS
D4 ¼ RðωÞdω ¼ ;
0 2
Z ∞ In this paper, we have analyzed the Ricker wavelet and particu-
ωp larly its frequency attributes. The results of this analysis can be sum-
D5 ¼ ωRðωÞdω ¼ pffiffiffi ;
0 π marized as follows:
Z ∞
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D6 ¼ ðω − ωm Þ2 RðωÞdω 1) We have defined the time breadth and the frequency bandwidth
0 and presented them analytically in terms of the Lambert W
2
3 2 1 2ωp function.
¼ ωp
2 − þ pffiffiffi − ωm : (24) 2) We have proved that the central frequency can be approximated
4 π 2 π
by the mean frequency, evaluated using the power spectrum
rather than the amplitude spectrum as used in some areas of
Then, the mean frequency is the published literature.
3) We have found that the standard deviation about the mean fre-
D5 2ωp quency is not, as suggested by the literature, the half-bandwidth
ωmðaÞ ¼ ¼ pffiffiffi ≈ 1.128379ωp ; (25) of the frequency spectrum.
D4 π
Moreover, we have established mathematical relationships between
and the half-bandwidth is the theoretical parameters (the central frequency and the bandwidth)
and the statistical quantities (the mean frequency and the standard
deviation) evaluated from either the power spectrum or the ampli-
sffiffiffiffiffiffi rffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi tude spectrum of the Ricker wavelet.
D6 3 4
ωσðaÞ ¼ ¼ ωp − ≈ 0.476194ωp : (26)
D4 2 π
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author is grateful to the sponsors of the Centre for Reservoir
For the sample Ricker wavelet with the peak angular frequency of Geophysics, Imperial College London, for supporting this research.
60π rad∕s, the mean frequency is ωmðaÞ ≈ 221:7 rad∕s, and two
times the deviation is 2ωσðaÞ ≈ 179.5 rad∕s. For comparison, Fig-
APPENDIX A
ure 3b plots a Gaussian curve defined with these two parameters:
THE DEFINITE INTEGRALS
2 1 ðω − ωmðaÞ Þ2 This appendix summarizes the derivation of the definite integrals
AðωÞ ¼ pffiffiffi exp − − 1 : (27) used in expressions 17 and 23 to evaluate the mean frequency and
π ωp 2 ω2σðaÞ the standard deviation.
The three definite integrals in expression 17, evaluation based on
the power spectrum of the Ricker wavelet, are given as the following:
If we use the amplitude spectrum to evaluate the mean frequency
and the deviation, we have the following two relationships for the Z Z
∞ 4ω4 ∞ 2ω2
central frequency and the half-bandwidth: D1 ¼ R ðωÞdω ¼
2
exp − 2 dω
0 0 πωp
6 ωp
Z ∞ 4 pffiffiffi
pffiffiffi sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
ffi! 1 4ω 2ω 2 2ω
π 1 1 ¼ pffiffiffi exp − 2 d
ωc ¼ ωmðaÞ −W 0 − þ −W −1 − ; 2πωp 0 ω 4
p ω p ω p
4 2e 2e Z ∞
pffiffiffi sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
ffi sffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
! ¼ pffiffiffi
1 3
x4 expð−x2 Þdx ¼ pffiffiffiffiffi ; (A-1)
π 1 1 2πωp 0 8 2π ωp
ωb ¼ ωσðaÞ pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi −W −1 − − −W 0 − :
6π −16 2e 2e
(28) Z ∞
D2 ¼ ωR2 ðωÞdω
They are approximately ωc ≈0.938598ωmðaÞ and ωb ≈1.212682ωσðaÞ . 0
Z ∞ 5
As shown in Figure 3 with respect to a comparison between the 4ω 2ω2
power spectrum and the amplitude spectrum, the power spectrum is ¼ exp − 2 dω
0 πωp
6 ωp
more concentrated than the amplitude spectrum. The mean fre- Z ∞ 2 2 2
quency evaluated from the power spectrum is closer to the central 1 2ω 2ω2 2ω
¼ exp − d
frequency (ωm ≈ 1.004486ωc ) than that evaluated from the ampli- 4π 0 ωp2 ωp2 ω2p
tude spectrum (ωmðaÞ ≈ 1.065454ωc ). The standard deviation of the Z ∞
1
power spectrum (ωσ ≈ 0.344ωp ) is narrower than that in the ampli- ¼ y2 expð−yÞdy
tude spectrum (ωσðaÞ ≈ 0.476ωp ). Figure 3 also shows that the
4π 0
power spectrum is closer to a Gaussian distribution (in the dashed 1
¼ ; (A-2)
curve) than the amplitude spectrum would be. 2π
A36 Wang
Z ∞
and
D5 ¼ ωRðωÞdω
0
Z
Z ∞
2ω3 ω2
∞ ¼ pffiffiffi 3 exp − 2 dω
D3 ¼ ðω−ωm Þ2 R2 ðωÞdω 0 π ωp ωp
Z ∞
0
Z ∞ 2 2
ωp ω ω2 ω
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4 2ω2
¼ ðω−ωm Þ 2 4ω
exp − 2 dω ¼ p ffiffiffi exp − 2 d 2
πω6p ωp π 0 ω2p ωp ωp
0 Z
Z ∞ pffiffiffi 6 pffiffiffi 4 ωp ∞
ωp 1 2ω ω2m 2ω ¼ pffiffiffi y expð−yÞdy
¼ p ffiffi
ffi þ 2 π 0
2π 0 2 ω p ω p ω p ωp
pffiffiffi ¼ pffiffiffi ; (A-6)
2ω 2 2ω π
×exp − 2 d
ωp ωp
Z 2 and
ωm ∞ 2ω2 2 2ω2 2ω
− exp − 2 d Z ∞
2π 0 ωp2 ωp ω2p
Z ∞ D6 ¼ ðω − ωm Þ2 RðωÞdω
ωp 1 6 ω2m 4 0
Z
¼ pffiffiffi x þ 2 x expð−x2 Þdx ∞ 2ω2 ω2
2π 0 2 ωp ¼ ðω − ωm Þ2 pffiffiffi 3 exp − 2 dω
Z ∞ π ωp ωp
ω 0
− m y2 expð−yÞdy Z ∞
2π 0 2 ω 4
ω 2
ω2 ω
rffiffiffi 2 ¼ pffiffiffi ωp 4 þ ωm 2 exp − 2 d
2 2
3ωp 5 32 3 4 2 π 0 ωp ωp ωp ωp
¼ pffiffiffiffiffi − þ pffiffiffiffiffi ωm − ω ; (A-3) Z 2
8 2π 4 9π 8 2π 3 π p 2ωm ωp ∞ ω2 ω2 ω
− pffiffiffi exp − d 2
π 0 ωp
2
ω2p ωp
Z ∞
pffiffiffi 2
where x ¼ 2ω∕ωp and y ¼ 2ω2 ∕ω2p . The derivations above have ¼ pffiffiffi ðω2p x4 þ ω2m x2 Þ expð−x2 Þdx
π 0
applied the following definite integral formulas: Z
2ωm ωp ∞
− p ffiffiffi y expð−yÞdy
π 0
Z pffiffiffi
∞ 3 π 2 3 2 1 2ωp 2
x4 expð−x2 Þdx ¼
; ¼ ωp − þ ωm − pffiffiffi ; (A-7)
0 8 4 π 2 π
Z ∞ pffiffiffi
3 π
ðax þ bx Þ expð−x Þdx ¼
6 4 2
ð5a þ 2bÞ; where x ¼ ω∕ωp and y ¼ ω2 ∕ω2p . In the derivation above, we have
0 16
Z ∞ used the following definite integrals:
y2 expð−yÞdy ¼ 2: (A-4) Z pffiffiffi
∞ π
0
x2 expð−x2 Þdx ¼
;
0 4
Z ∞ pffiffiffi pffiffiffi
3 π π
ðax þ bx Þ expð−x Þdx ¼
4 2 2
aþ
ffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi is ωm ¼ D2 ∕D1 , and the standard
Then, the mean p frequency b;
0 8 4
deviation is ωσ ¼ D3 ∕D1 . Z ∞
The three definite integrals in expression 23, evaluation based on y expð−yÞdy ¼ 1: (A-8)
the amplitude spectrum, are given as the following: 0
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