Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge 2020 ii Paper 2 33C iii Solution Created 2026-09-24 Updated 2026-10-03
The first Born approximation for a one-dimensional reflection coefficient follows by replacing the Jost solution inside its Volterra scattering equation by the free wave :
To check the inverse problem, any shallow discrete state contributes only at pointwise, so to first order the Marchenko input isDifferentiating and inserting the Born approximation giveswhere the second line is the Fourier inversion theorem. At first order the quadratic integral term in the Marchenko equation may be dropped, soThe reconstruction formula therefore returnsThus direct and inverse scattering agree to first order.