Modeling of sound propagation in the ocean by means of random matrices

Problem of sound propagation in the randomlyinhomogeneous oceanic waveguide is considered. We consider a recently developed promising approach for modeling of sound propagation. The approach is based on the usage of the random matrix theory (RMT). Using spectral analysis of a wavefield propagator, we examine validity of the RMT-based approach. It is shown that spectral properties of the propagator constructed by means of the RMT-based approach are basically consistent with direct solutions of the standard parabolic equation. We have detected discrepancy only for low frequencies and relatively short distances, when long-lasting crossmode correlations are significant.