Three-dimensional logarithmic resonances in a homogeneous elastic wave guide (Q1573451)

The author discusses the asymptotics of seismic waves. The model consists of a single homogeneous elastic layer of infinite extent with a free upper surface and with the lower surface rigidly attached to a bottom half-space. The source is concentrated on a (non) compact portion of the bottom (the initial value problem). For the two-dimensional case, this problem was solved earlier by the author [ibid. 17, No. 6, 979-998 (1998; Zbl 0941.74023)]. Here, using the previously developed techniques, the author discusses the three-dimensional case. The essential idea is to show the existence of some resonant frequencies for which the response grows like \(\sqrt t\) for large values of time \(t\). By this way, a hypothesis on the existence of the so-called triggering earthquakes is mathematically validated. We think that this paper, whose analytic treatment (Fourier and Laplace transform) is clear and elegant, brings a basic contribution to the modeling of earthquake phenomena.