# Random matrix theory for low-frequency sound propagation in the ocean: a spectral statistics test

## TL;DR

This paper evaluates a novel random matrix theory approach for modeling low-frequency sound propagation in the deep ocean, demonstrating its effectiveness in reproducing spectral statistics and mode coupling over long distances.

## Contribution

It introduces and tests a RMT-based propagator for ocean sound propagation, showing its ability to match numerical solutions and capture spectral features.

## Key findings

- RMT-based propagator aligns well with direct numerical solutions for long-range propagation.
- Mode coupling is effectively modeled by the RMT approach.
- Agreement decreases at shorter distances due to cross-mode correlations.

## Abstract

Problem of long-range sound propagation in the randomly-inhomogeneous deep ocean is considered. We examine a novel approach for modeling of wave propagation, developed by K.C.Hegewisch and S.Tomsovic. This approach relies on construction of a wavefield propagator using the random matrix theory (RMT). We study the ability of the RMT-based propagator to reproduce properties of the propagator corresponding to direct numerical solution of the parabolic equation. It is shown that mode coupling described by the RMT-based propagator is basically consistent with the direct Monte-Carlo simulation. The agreement is worsened only for relatively short distances, when long-lasting cross-mode correlations are significant. It is shown that the RMT-based propagator with properly chosen range step can reproduce some coherent features in spectral statistics.