This book focuses on speech signal phenomena, presenting a robustification of the usual speech generation models with regard to the presumed types of excitation signals, which is equivalent to the introduction of a class of nonlinear models and the corresponding criterion functions for parameter estimation. Compared to the general class of nonlinear models, such as various neural networks, these models possess good properties of controlled complexity, the option of working in "online" mode, as well as a low information volume for efficient speech encoding and transmission. Providing comprehensive insights, the book is based on the authors' research, which has already been published, supplemented by additional texts discussing general considerations of speech modeling, linear predictive analysis and robust parameter estimation.

This book focuses on speech signal phenomena, presenting a robustification of the usual speech generation models with regard to the presumed types of excitation signals, which is equivalent to the introduction of a class of nonlinear models and the corresponding criterion functions for parameter estimation. Compared to the general class of nonlinear models, such as various neural networks, these models possess good properties of controlled complexity, the option of working in "online" mode, as well as a low information volume for efficient speech encoding and transmission. Providing comprehensive insights, the book is based on the authors' research, which has already been published, supplemented by additional texts discussing general considerations of speech modeling, linear predictive analysis and robust parameter estimation.

Contents: Atomic Collision Processes; Atomic Physics with Antiprotons; Electron Impact Double Ionization of Ions; On Absorption Spectra of Magnesium-Like Ions: Mgi to Piv; An Optical Potential Approach to the Slow Elastic Electron & Positron Scattering on Atoms; Foundation of Approximative Treatment of the Turning Point In the ADK-Theory; Semiclassical Theory of Two-Electron Systems; Electron Impact Cross Sections For Sodium & Cadmium Atoms: Particle & Laser Beam Interaction with Solids; Optical Characterization of Growth & Interdiffusion Kinetics In Quantum Structures; The Simulation of Energetic Particle Collisions with Solids - A Visual Representation ; Sputter-Induced Erosion of Hard Coatings for Fusion Reactor First-Wall; An Investigation of Ion Beam Mixing In Amorphous Silicon.

Twenty invited lectures and progress reports document one subject of the Summer School and International Symposium on the Physics of Ionized gases in Belgrade in September 1993; another volume covers atomic collisions and beam-solid interactions. The perspectives on low-temperature plasmas include the influence of metastables on the breakdown proba