Fixed angle scattering: recovery of singularities and its limitations

Abstract

We prove that in dimension $n \ge 2$ the main singularities of a complex potential $q$ having a certain a priori regularity are contained in the Born approximation $q_\theta$ constructed from fixed angle scattering data. Moreover, ${q-q_\theta}$ can be up to one derivative more regular than $q$ in the Sobolev scale. In fact, this result is optimal, we construct a family of compactly supported and radial potentials for which it is not possible to have more than one derivative gain. Also, these functions show that for $n>3$, the maximum derivative gain can be very small for potentials in the Sobolev scale not having a certain a priori level of regularity which grows with the dimension.