  Three numerical algorithms are proposed to solve the time-dependent
elastodynamic equations in elastic solids. All algorithms are based on
approximating the solution of the equations, which can be written as a matrix
exponential. By approximating the matrix exponential with a product formula, an
unconditionally stable algorithm is derived that conserves the total elastic
energy density. By expanding the matrix exponential in Chebyshev polynomials
for a specific time instance, a so-called ``one-step'' algorithm is constructed
that is very accurate with respect to the time integration. By formulating the
conventional velocity-stress finite-difference time-domain algorithm (VS-FDTD)
in matrix exponential form, the staggered-in-time nature can be removed by a
small modification, and higher order in time algorithms can be easily derived.
For two different seismic events the accuracy of the algorithms is studied and
compared with the result obtained by using the conventional VS-FDTD algorithm.
