The Ricker Wavelet
The Ricker wavelet is the standard model pulse of seismic processing: zero phase, symmetric, and described by a single dominant frequency.
The equation
A(t) = (1 – 2π²f²t²) e^(-π²f²t²)
- f is the dominant frequency in hertz
- t is time centered on the peak
- The central lobe is flanked by two smaller side lobes
Worked example
A 25 hertz Ricker has a central lobe about 31 milliseconds across between its side lobe troughs. Convolve it with a reflectivity series and you have a synthetic seismogram in one line of code.
When to use it
A convenient fiction: real wavelets are mixed phase and change with depth. But for modeling resolution, tuning, and wedge effects, the Ricker is the shared language of the industry.
Related Calculators and Reference
- Seismic Wave Simulator: watch wavefronts obey these relations live.
- Seismic Velocity Converter: apply the Dix equation to your own picks.
- SEG Wiki: the standard reference for seismic methods.