ERROR ANALYSIS OF PHASE SCREEN METHOD IN 3-D

The purpose of the research presented in this paper is to do an error analysis of the phase screen method for forward and inverse wave propa gation calculations in 3D heterogeneous acoustic media. The differenti al operator formalism approach is used, which provides new insight int o tile phase screen method. Under the assumptions that, backscattering and commutator term of operators R and Q are negligible, we derive a partial differential equation and its solution corresponding to the ph ase screen method. The errors introduced in these derivations are also obtained. For a one-step (Delta z) phase screen calculation, the lead ing error term is in the first order of k(0) Delta z and proportional to the error from splitting the square-root operator Q. The propagatio n angle should be less than 40 degrees to control the error from the s plitting operator Q under 5%.