Elastic Wave Propagation in Homogeneous and Inhomogeneous Media

A general method is developed for the solution of the linearized equations of elasticity for both homogeneous and inhomogeneous media. This method yields solutions which describe propagating waves which may be pulses, rapidly changing wave forms, or periodic waves. It is not restricted by the usual considerations which depend upon separation of variables. The solution consists of a series of terms, the first of which describes the wave motion predicted by geometrical optics. Subsequent terms account for certain types of diffraction effects. The series is not necessarily convergent but is presumably asymptotic to the solution.