Seismic imaging is a subject that draws much from mathematics and physics. These subjects build one idea upon another in a logical progression. I chose to organize this book likewise. This organization favors the new student who wants to understand the material thoroughly. A detailed index and more than a hundred cross references are included to link the practical topics that a logical organization has left somewhat scattered about.
More encyclopedic, topic-oriented textbooks on reflection seismology are those of Waters [1981] and Sengbush [1983]. Books focused on petroleum prospecting that treat reflection seismology descriptively are Sheriff [1980] and Anstey [1980]. Complementary books on earthquake seismology are Aki and Richards [1980] and Kennett [1983].
I have also tried to reach readers who want to learn concepts while skimming the mathematics. Individual sections (which are lectures) carry practical and descriptive matters as far as possible before the mathematical analysis. The chapters themselves are also organized in this way, so for example, when you get to the middle of Chapter 1, you can skip forward to Chapter 2.
As it happens, waves are marvelously geometrical objects, and much can be learned with little mathematical analysis. But you should begin the book having previous familiarity with calculus, complex exponentials, and Fourier transformation.