Statistical analysis of incoherent scatter experiments using the Markov chain Monte-Carlo method

Vierinen, J.1, Virtanen, I.2, Lehtinen, M.1 and Kero, A.1

1 Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory, Sodankylä, Finland
2 University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

The analysis of incoherent scatter measurements is currently mostly done by finding a maximum of the posterior distribution of the plasma parameters. In this study we use the Markov chain Montel-Carlo method to study the full distribution of the plasma parameters. As an example, we show how the method can be applied to D and F-layer measurements. We conclude that examining the full distribution of the estimated parameters yields more information than the traditional method and makes the inversion more stable.