Huygens wavefront tracing: A robust alternative to conventional ray tracing

Published as SEP Report, 95, 101-113 (1997)

Huygens wavefront tracing:
A robust alternative to conventional ray tracing

Paul Sava and Sergey Fomel

paul@sep.stanford.edu, sergey@sep.stanford.edu

Abstract:

We present a method of ray tracing that is based on a system of differential equations equivalent to the eikonal equation, but formulated in the ray coordinate system. We use a first-order discretization scheme that is interpreted very simply in terms of the Huygens' principle. The method has proved to be a robust alternative to conventional ray tracing, while being faster and having a better ability to penetrate the shadow zones.