A propagator matrix method for periodically stratified media.

The propagator matrix formalism is a convenient method for treating horizontally stratified media [F. Gilbert and G. E. Backus, Geophysics 31, 326 (1966)]. Until now, however, it apparently has not been applied to periodic media. This paper shows how the propagator formalism can be used in conjunction with Sylvester's theorem to obtain an extract solution for the propagation of waves in a periodically stratified layer of arbitrary thickness. Explicit expressions are derived for the simple case of a periodically layered fluid. These expressions are used to investigate several interesting limiting cases. Application of the method to more complicated cases is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]