Generalized linear spectral models

In this chapter we consider a class of parametric spectrum esti- mators based on a generalized linear model for exponential random variables with power link. The power transformation of the spectrum of a stationary process can be expanded in a Fourier series, with the coefficients representing generalised autocovariances. Direct Whittle estimation of the coefficients is generally unfeasible, as they are subject to constraints (the autocovariances need to be a positive semidefinite sequence). The problem can be overcome by using an ARMA repre- sentation for the power transformation of the spectrum. Estimation is carried out by maximising the Whittle likelihood, whereas the se- lection of a spectral model, as a function of the power transformation parameter and the ARMA orders, can be carried out by information criteria. The proposed methods are applied to the estimation of the inverse autocorrelation function and the related problem of selecting the optimal interpolator, and for the identification of spectral peaks. More generally, they can be applied to spectral estimation with pos- sibly misspecified models.