Validity of the first Rytov approximation

The Rytov approximation omits the quadratic gradient source in the logarithmic wave perturbation equation. Its next correction solves ${\mathcal{L}}_i{\chi }_2=-\nabla {\chi }_1\cdot \nabla {\chi }_1$. Control of the propagated correction, weak amplitude fluctuations and avoidance of field zeros are needed. An appreciable smooth accumulated phase can be retained by exponentiation; small total phase is not the same condition as small local phase gradients.