Coupled Acoustic–Optical Wave Propagation Theory for RIS-Enabled Underwater Networks

Authors

  • Bharani Sethupandian S Professor and HoD, Department of CSE -AI ML Siddhartha Institute of Engineering and Technology ,Ibrahimpatnam ,Hyderabad,India https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4277-2992
  • Ibragimova Iroda Rashid qizi Tashkent State University of Economics 49, Islam Karimov str., 100066, Tashkent, Uzbekistan https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3578-5330
  • Leyla Ziyodulloyeva Termez University of Economics and Service, Termez Uzbekistan. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7128-8682
  • Khamdamov Rustam Tulkinovich Department of Mechatronics and Robotics, Faculty of Electronics and Automation, Tashkent State Technical University named after Islam Karimov, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8436-1528
  • Zikiryayev Shavkat Associate Professor, Department of "Economics and Pedagogical Sciences", Samarkand Campus of the University of Economics and Pedagogy, Samarkand, Uzbekistan https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6617-0760
  • Durdiev Normat Associate Professor of the Department of Use of Hydromelioration Systems, Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers, National Research University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0272-6344
  • K.Senthil Prakash Professor,Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Vellalar College of Engineering and Technology , Thindal, Erode, Tamilnadu - 638012 . India. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9855-3698

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31838/NJAP/07.03.19

Keywords:

Underwater networks, reconfigurable intelligent surface, acoustic–optical coupling, metasurface propagation, hybrid aperture modeling, electromagnetic wavefront control, Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT)

Abstract

Underwater wireless communication inherently has limitations associated with the high attenuation of the radio and optical waves, and low bandwidth of acoustic channels. Recent progress in Reconfigurable Intelligible Surfaces (RISs) and meta surface-based wave control present new opportunities on how the underwater propagation can be customized using programmable boundary conditions. The current paper introduces a Coupled Acoustic -Optical Wave Propagation Theory (CAO-WPT) that reduces the gap between Helmholtz and Maxwell equations to explain interaction of multi-domain waves over a reconfigurable RIS aperture. The model considers the RIS to be an electromagnetic acoustic analog array, with coherence of propagation and field directivity augmented together by adaptive impedance and phase control. Analytical derivations and finite-element simulations validate enhanced link efficiency showing up to 2.4x spectral-efficiency as well as 36% reduced energy cost that was helped by acoustic-only transmission. The findings indicate that the accurate RIS tuning may lead to aperture-level beam shaping and hybrid field reinforcement, which will create a transition point between the metasurface-based antenna theory and the physics of underwater communication. The framework developed on this basis provides a theory to the RIS-assisted Internet-of-Underwater-Things (IoUT) architectures and next-generation hybrid propagation systems that enable long-range and high-fidelity underwater links.

References

1. Armghan, A., Alsharari, M., Aliqab, K., Alrashdi, I., Kanwal, B., Mirza, J., & Aziz, I. (2025). High-speed and potentially scalable UWOC/UWB converged transmission link for underwater wireless optical sensor networks. Frontiers in Physics, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphy.2025.1650284

2. Chen, Z., Du, J., Jiang, C., & Han, Z. (2024). Joint Optimization of Communication Enhancement and Location Privacy Protection in RIS-Assisted Underwater Communication System. arXiv (Cornell University). https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2412.00367

3. Cominelli, S., & Braghin, F. (2024). Optimal Design of Broadband, Low-Directivity Graded Index Acoustic Lenses for Underwater Applications. arXiv (Cornell University). https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2406.17400

4. Edemen, Ç., Altabbaa, M. T., & Uysal, M. (2024). Channel Modeling of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface-aided Underwater Acoustic Communication System. 1. https://doi.org/10.1109/siu61531.2024.10601150

5. Heydaribeni, A., & Beyranvand, H. (2025). Performance Analysis of Underwater Optical Wireless Communication Using O-RIS and Fiber Optic Backhaul (Extended version). https://doi.org/10.48550/ARXIV.2508.18915

6. Hu, J., Guo, Z., Shi, J., Jiang, X., Chen, Q., Chen, H., He, Z., Song, Q., Xiao, S., Yu, S., Chi, N., & Shen, C. (2024). A metasurface-based full-color circular auto-focusing Airy beam transmitter for stable high-speed underwater wireless optical communications. Nature Communications, 15(1), 2944. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47105-x

7. Huang, X., Shang, W., Li, H., Greenhalgh, S., & Lin, J. (2025). Emitting and controlling ultra-low frequency underwater acoustic waves using a marine vibration system with time interfacing. Communications Engineering, 4(1), 51.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s44172-025-00389-3

8. Le, D. H., Kronowetter, F., Chiang, Y. K., Maeder, M., Marburg, S., & Powell, D. A. (2024). Reconfigurable Acoustic Metalens with Tailored Structural Equilibria. arXiv (Cornell University). https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2411.07440

9. Li, Y., Xiang, Y., Chen, Z., & Peng, Y. (2025). A Survey: RTE Solutions for Underwater Optical Communications. arXiv

(Cornell University). https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2501.12855

10. Luo, Y., Pu, L., Diao, J., Liu, C., & Song, A. (2024). Underwater Acoustic Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces: from Principle to Practice. arXiv (Cornell University). https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2412.17865

11. Luo, Y., Pu, L., & Song, A. (2024). Experimental Study of Underwater Acoustic Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces with In-Phase and Quadrature Modulation. arXiv (Cornell University). https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2411.12906

12. Ndjiongue, A. R., Dobre, O. A., Shin, H., & Haas, H. (2025). Underwater Multi-Wavelength Optical Links With Blue Targets and Constraints: Opportunities and Challenges. arXiv (Cornell University). https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2504.15430

13. Pavlov, I. I., Мышкин, В. Ф., & Khan, V. A. (2024). ORGANIZATION OF AN UNDERWATER WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM. T-Comm, 18(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.36724/2072-8735-2024-18-1-4-12

14. Qadri, M., Zhang, K., Hinduja, A., Kaess, M., Pediredla, A., & Metzler, C. A. (2024). AONeuS: A Neural Rendering

Framework for Acoustic-Optical Sensor Fusion. 1. https://doi.org/10.1145/3641519.3657446

15. Rakib, Md. A., Ibrahim, Md., Badrudduza, A. S. M., & Ansari, I. S. (2024). Dual Threats in RIS-Aided RF-UOWC Mixed Networks: Secrecy Performance Analysis under Simultaneous RF and UOWC Eavesdropping. arXiv (Cornell University). https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2408.06295

16. Sarawar, A. B., Badrudduza, A. S. M., Ibrahim, Md., Ansari, I. S., & Yu, H. (2024). Secrecy Performance Analysis of Integrated RF-UWOC IoT Networks Enabled by UAV and Underwater-RIS. arXiv (Cornell University). https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2407.18766

17. Theocharidis, T., & Kavallieratou, E. (2025). Underwater communication technologies: a review [Review of Underwater communication technologies: a review]. Telecommunication Systems, 88(2). Springer Science+Business Media. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11235-025-01279-x

18. Waduge, T. G., Yang, Y., & Seet, B. (2025). A Review of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces in Underwater Wireless Communication: Challenges and Future Directions. Journal of Sensor and Actuator Networks, 14(5),

https://doi.org/10.3390/jsan1405009797.

19. Xiao, Z., Yang, L., Bithas, P. S., Ansari, I. S., Li, X., & Alouini, M. (2024). Performance Analysis of Mixed Underwater Acoustic/Optical Relaying Systems. IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 23(9), 11357. https://doi.org/10.1109/twc.2024.3381643

20. Zhao, L., Tan, J. C., Wang, J., Akyildiz, I. F., & Sun, Z. (2025). Covering Underwater Shadow Zones using Acoustic

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces. arXiv (Cornell University). https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2501.02256

21. Mpamije, L.J., & Chikuni, E. (2023). Boundary element method for underwater acoustic propagation in complex marine environments. Advanced Computational Acoustics Engineering, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.17051/ACAE/01.01.05

22. Muralidharan, J. (2024). Advancements in 5G technology: Challenges and opportunities in communication

networks. Progress in Electronics and Communication Engineering, 1(1), 1–6.

23. Kumar, T.M.S. (2024). Security challenges and solutions in RF-based IoT networks: A comprehensive review. SCCTS

Journal of Embedded Systems Design and Applications, 1(1), 19–24.

24. Caner, A., Ali, M., Yıldız, A., & Hanım, E. (2025). Improvements in environmental monitoring in IoT networks through sensor fusion techniques. Journal of Wireless Sensor Networks and IoT, 2(2), 38–44.

25. Abdullah, D. (2025). Environmental sound classification using CNNs with frequency-attentive acoustic modeling. National Journal of Speech and Audio Processing, 1(1), 8–14.

Downloads

Published

2025-11-13

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 3 (2025): NJAP

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Bharani Sethupandian S, Ibragimova Iroda Rashid qizi, Leyla Ziyodulloyeva, Khamdamov Rustam Tulkinovich, Zikiryayev Shavkat, Durdiev Normat, & K.Senthil Prakash. (2025). Coupled Acoustic–Optical Wave Propagation Theory for RIS-Enabled Underwater Networks. National Journal of Antennas and Propagation, 7(3), 148-157. https://doi.org/10.31838/NJAP/07.03.19

Similar Articles

1-10 of 163

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.