Doubling constructions and tensor product L-functions: the linear case

We present an integral representation for the tensor product L-function of a pair of automorphic cuspidal representations, one of a classical group, the other of a general linear group. Our construction is uniform over all classical groups, and is applicable to all cuspidal representations; it does not require genericity. The main new ideas of the construction are the use of generalized Speh representations as inducing data for the Eisenstein series and the introduction of a new (global and local) model, which generalizes the Whittaker model. Here we consider linear groups, but our construction also extends to arbitrary degree metaplectic coverings; this will be the topic of an upcoming work.