NON-PARABOLIC MARCHING ALGORITHM FOR SOUND FIELD CALCULATION IN THE OCEAN WAVEGUIDE
An algorithm is presented for calculating sound field in the inhomogeneous ocean waveguide. It does not involve parabolic approximation and can be considered as principally exact (at least for 2D inhomogeneities of the sound speed field). On the other hand, it is “marching” and can be easily implemented as a computer code (note, that marching in this case proceeds in “backward” direction, i.e. towards the source). Those features of the code are similar to couple mode algorithm (COUPLE) developed originally by R. Evans. The principal difference is that suggested code does not assume piecewise constant approximation of the waveguide properties with respect to horizontal coordinates. As a result, the horizontal steps of marching can be increased significantly. The estimate of the efficiency of the approach as compared to stepwise couple modes method is given. The results of the code testing with the help of benchmark problem as well as calculation of sound propagation through a strong inhomogeneity formed by the sub-arctic front are presented. The present version of the code can be used to calculate entries of scattering matrix (S-matrix) for the ocean waveguide as well as travel times of different modes (derivatives of phases of corresponding entries with respect to frequency). A priori restrictions on S-matrix (reciprocity and energy conservation) are also given, and some objective quantitative criterion of the accuracy of the numerical algorithms formulated in terms of S-matrix is suggested.