General incoherent scatter analysis and GUISDAP

In modern incoherent scatter measurements very complicated coding schemes are used to achieve the necessary statistical accuracy in the measurements. The ambiguity functions specify how the measurement weights the plasma autocorrelation function in the two-dimensional space of range and lag. Alternatively one can work in the space of range and frequency, and it is necessary to derive the ambiguity (instrument, weighting) functions also in terms of these variables. In this paper we summarize the theory of ambiguity functions and discuss the use of lag profiles as tools of describing arbitrary kinds of incoherent scatter measurements. We also develope a general way to calculate error estimates of estimated autocorrelation function values values. Finally, we shortly discuss how the formalism is used in the GUISDAP (Grand Unified Incoherent Scatter Design and Analysis Package) software.