The perturbation method in elastic wave scattering

Methods of theoretical study in seismic wave scattering are reviewed with the emphasis on the perturbation method. Detailed analysis for weak scattering using Born approximation is given. For elastic random media, the mean square amplitudes of scattered waves are derived using a new approach by working directly in the spectrum domain. The conditions for the scalar wave approximation are obtained. The problem of sensitivity of fore- and backscattering to heterogeneities with different scales and properties (velocity or impedance) is discussed.