Résumé: A review of the tangent plane approximation proposed by L.M. Brekhovskikh is presented. The advantage of the tangent plane approximation over methods based on the analysis of integral equations for surface sources is emphasized. A general formula is given for the scattering amplitude of scalar plane waves under an arbitrary boundary condition. The direct generalization of the tangent plane approximation is shown to yield approximations that include a correct description of the Bragg scattering and allow one to avoid the use of a two-scale model.

Langue: Anglais