Imaging of layered media in inverse scattering problems for an acoustic wave equation

Two-dimensional (2D) inverse scattering problems for the acoustic wave equation consisting of obtaining the density and acoustic impedance of the medium are considered. A necessary and sufficient condition for the unique solvability of these problems in the form of the law of energy conservation has been established. It is proved that this condition is that for each pulse oscillation source located on the boundary of a half-plane, the energy flow of the scattered waves is less than the energy flux of waves propagating from the boundary of this half-plane. This shows that for inverse dynamic scattering problems in acoustics and geophysics when the law of energy conservation holds it is possible to determine the elastic density parameters of the medium. The obtained results significantly increase the class of mathematical models currently used in solving multidimensional inverse scattering problems. Some specific aspects of interpreting inverse problems solutions are considered. © 2016, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.