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

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.