Modal dispersion effects on coherent signal processing parameters

Acoustic signals propagated in deep ocean ducts are geometrically (or modally) dispersed. The effects of the dispersion on coherent signal processing is examined in this paper. Using a model, which for long range-deep ocean propagation has been shown to adequately predict dispersion measures, it is determined that the effects of dispersion on the bandwidth of the signal are small. However, in coherently correlating spectrally separated but related signals, the effect on the allowable integration time is significant. Curves relating the allowable integration time as functions of frequency and range rate between the source and receiver are presented.