Evaluation of data-driven neural operators in ocean acoustic propagation modeling

Various types of neural networks have been employed to tackle a wide range of complex partial differential equations (PDEs) and ordinary differential equations (ODEs). Notably, neural operators such as DeepONet and FNO show promise in handling these problems, offering potential real-time prediction capabilities. In contrast to physics-informed neural network (PINN) methods, neural operators primarily derive insight from extensive, well-prepared datasets. In the context of ocean acoustic propagation modeling, where the challenge involves solving the wave or Helmholtz equation given specific boundary conditions, this study focuses on assessing the performance of data-driven neural operators in predicting sound pressure. Unlike conventional approaches that map between finite-dimensional Euclidean spaces, neural operators excel in learning mappings between infinite-dimensional function spaces—a particularly advantageous feature in sound propagation modeling tasks. This research specifically delves into evaluating the generalization capabilities of neural operators when applied to sound propagation modeling in a range-independent shallow water environment. By exploring the neural operators' effectiveness in this domain, the study aims to contribute valuable insights into their potential applications for real-world ocean acoustics simulations.