Horizontal ray theory for ocean acoustics

Abstract

The solution of the reduced scalar wave equation for an almost stratified medium is written in the form of an asymptotic power series. The vertical structure of the solution is expressed as a linear combination of the normal-mode eigenfunctions whose coefficients satisfy two-dimensional eikonal and transport equations. Although smooth caustics may be treated for the two-dimensional scalar wave equation, the problem of a uniform approximation near a point source has not yet been resolved. Finally, the theory is applied to acoustic propagation in a realistic model ocean and the results are compared with measurements.