Wave Propagation and Source Localization in Random and Refracting Media

Abstract:

This thesis focuses on understanding the way that acoustic and electromagnetic waves propagate through an inhomogeneous or turbulent environment, and analyzes the effect that this uncertainty has on signal processing algorithms. These methods are applied to determining the effectiveness of matched-field style source localization algorithms in uncertain ocean environments, and to analyzing the effect that random media composed of electrically large scatterers has on propagating waves. The first half of this thesis focuses on understanding electromagnetic wave propagation in a random medium composed of metallic scatterers placed within a background medium and develops a new method that is based on using Monte Carlo simulation and full-wave analysis software simultaneously for modeling wave propagation in random media composed of electrically-large, interacting particles. The second half of this dissertation introduces the frequency-difference autoproduct, a surrogate field quantity, and applies this quantity to passively localize sources transmitting in the deep ocean using a water-column spanning vertical line array hundreds of kilometers away from the sources.

Chairs: Professors David Dowling and Kamal Sarabandi

Passcode: 129394