Refracted/Reflected Ray Transmissions in a Divergent Channel

Refracted/bottom reflected ray transmissions in a divergent channel are studied when the sound velocity decreases linearly with depth. Ray geometry is examined in detail and, for a fixed source and receiving point, the number of arrivals, travel time, and spreading loss are found. For the source and receiving point on the channel bottom, bounds on the acceptable initial inclination angle, travel time, number of bottom reflections, and spreading loss are determined. Further, spreading losses in divergent and horizontal channels are compared. Spreading loss is also examined at all points along a ray emanating from a bottom source. In an example, bottom loss and bottom phase shift are superimposed upon spreading loss and travel‐time phase shift, respectively, and the concept of bottom‐induced interference is discussed.