Discriminating between models of galaxy clustering by statistical measures
T. Shanks · Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society · 1979
It is shown by simulation that the galaxy 2- and 3-point covariance functions are not sensitive discriminants between two statistical models of galaxy distribution – the hierarchical model and an identical cluster power law model. Indeed, a new statistical analysis applied here to galaxy catalogues, static simulations and N-body simulations strongly suggests that the hierarchical model is less consistent with the observations than the power-law cluster model. This result indicates that the arguments for a hierarchical pattern of galaxy clustering are not as strong as previously thought.