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This thesis investigates hair cell (He) homeostasis and the compression wave cochlear amplifier. In the first part of the thesis, an accurate physiological treatment of a generic HC is conducted using a nonlinear distributed parameter physical model. This model includes the major ionic species (sodium, potassium and chlorine), defining the active cellular homeostatic properties. This model is used for transient response analysis. Resting state and transient responses of the HC model are in excellent agreement with the experimental literature. HCs in this model are most simply classified as instantaneous nonlinear transduction devices (i. e. their homeostatic mechanisms are not significantly frequency selective). A compression wave cochlear amplifier (CW-CA) is defined and modelled for the first time in the second part of the thesis. It is a physiological model that addresses three main elements present in the peripheral hearing circuit: cochlear mechanics, HC nonlinearity, and neurology. The actual physiological feedback mechanism of the CW-CA is realistic. A passive travelling wave (or other mechanical) vibration is the input to the system. Whilst the travelling wave wiggles the Organ of Corti, the compression wave pulsates it. The CW-CA is an alternative to the physiologically ill-defined locally active travelling wave cochlear feedback amplifier proposed by others. The new CW-CA model results in a cycle-by-cycle amplifier with nonlinear response. It is capable of assuming an infinite number of different operating states. The stable and first few amplitude-limited unstable states are significant in describing the operation of the peripheral hearing system. The CW-CA model can explain a large number of hearing phenomena. Several of these are investigated by means of a system analysis for both the stable and unstable cases. The system is studied and the tone, two-tone suppression and distortion product responses are found to align well with published results. Explanations for various mechanical, HC and neurological phenomena are discussed and presented. For example, previously poorly understood phenomena such as otoacoustic emissions and neural spontaneous rates are accounted for.

Thesis (M.S.)--Worcester Polytechnic Institute. / Keywords: fiber amplifier; erbium; excited state absorption; rare earth fluorescence; neodymium. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-72).

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1991. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-79). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S. in electrical engineering)--Washington State University. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1965. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Bibliography: l. 66-68.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1962. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 92).

Thesis (M.S. in electrical engineering)--Washington State University, August 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Mar. 11, 2009). "School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science." Includes bibliographical references (p. 48-49).

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1993. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 68). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M. Communication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.