Entry requirements

180 credits including 80 credits in physics and mathematics, including The Earth's Potential Fields, 5 credits.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• Derive the differential equations governing electromagnetic induction in the Earth starting from Maxwell's equations.
• Derive electromagnetic fields and their potentials owing to controlled (galvanic and inductive) and natural sources over a stratified Earth.
• Develop least squares estimates of transfer functions from experimental time-series data.
• Describe and apply the fundamental properties of the impedance tensor and other transfer functions for plane waves over an Earth of arbitrary dimension accounting for galvanic distortion.
• Explain the principles of numerical models like finite-difference and integral equation methods to solve forward problems in 2D and 3D.
• Explain how model sensitivities can be calculated using the reciprocity theorem.
• Make recommendations as what technique is best suited for solving a given electromagnetic problem with respect to depth penetration and resolution.

Content

Introduction Maxwell's equations. Reflection and refraction of plane waves. Potentials of electric and magnetic fields. Sources in unbounded media. Finite sources: magnetic and electric dipoles. Time series analysis. Least squares and robust least squares estimates. Electromagnetic transfer functions. Distortion of electromagnetic fields. Numerical modelling: integral equations and finite differences. Computation of sensitivities. Geoelectric methods.

Instruction

Lectures, home work assignments, problem solution and computer exercises.

Assessment

Written examination (8 credits), homework assignments (1 credit), and oral presentation (1 credit).

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.