A comparison of ray theory, modified ray theory, and normal-mode theory for a deep-ocean arbitrary-velocity profile

Abstract

For a typical sound-velocity profile arbitrary shape in the deep ocean, the validity of ray theory, modified ray theory, and normal-mode theory is assessed by a mutual comparison of their predictions in the shadow zone, caustic region, and double-arrival regions of the first convergence zone caustic. Modified ray theory is found to constitute a reasonable approximation to the more exact normal-mode theory.