A rigorous criterion to identify the validity of the Born approximation

This paper intends to identify the validity of the orn approximation by a new universal criterion, which is ultimately reduced to the calculation of an operator norm. With the purpose of enabling the criterion to be applicable to general scattering problems, a method is proposed to estimate the norm of the operator concerned. Compared with the conventional criterion, this method excels in its ability to acquire a quantificational upper bound of the relative error by Born approximation as well as to extend its valid frequency to a wider range. Two canonical scattering examples are given as evidence for the validity of the criterion.