A modified Born approximation for scattering in isotropic and anisotropic elastic solids

A new modified Born approximation (MBA) is presented that significantly extends the range of validity of the Born approximation to include the pulse-echo responses of strongly scattering inclusions in an elastic solid. The MBA also improves on the doubly distorted Born approximation (DDBA), a similar modification of the Born approximation that has been recently developed. These improvements are demonstrated by comparing the MBA, the Born approximation and the DDBA with the exact separation of variables solution for spherical inclusions in isotropic media. Furthermore, it is shown that the form of the MBA remains valid even for the pulse-echo scattering of an anisotropic inclusion in a general anisotropic elastic medium so that it is potentially applicable to a wide class of flaws and materials.