The inverse backscattering problem in three dimensions

This article is a study of the mapping from a potentialq(x) onR ³ to the backscattering amplitude associated with the Hamiltonian –+q(x). The backscattering amplitude is the restriction of the scattering amplitudea(, , k), (, , k)S ²×S ²×₊, toa(,–, k). We show that in suitable (complex) Banach spaces the map fromq(x) toa(x/|x|, –x/|x|, |x|) is usually a local diffeomorphism. Hence in contrast to the overdetermined problem of recoveringq from the full scattering amplitude the inverse backscattering problem is well posed.