Voids in the distribution of galaxies : an assessment of their significance and implications for large-scale structure formation theories
Master Thesis
1990
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University of Cape Town
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Abstract
Chapter I gives an overview of the current well-known theoretical models of large-scale structure formation and explains how the predictions of these models can be tested by the investigation of voids in the distribution of galaxies. Chapter II reviews work that has already been done on the statistics and properties of voids. In particular, attention is focussed on the establishment of a new statistic, the void probability function, which is sensitive to the presence of voids and is intimately linked to the hierarchy of N-point correlation functions derived by Peebles (1980). Chapter II also contains a brief review of the work done by Gott on point-smoothing analysis and the use of the topological genus parameter to distinguish between various theoretical models of structure formation. Chapters III and IV present the original work done by the author in establishing a method of ยท surveying all important voids in the available data. A systematic search for all voids out to a redshift of about 15000 km/s is described. Methods of assessing the significance of these voids are discussed. Upon applying these methods, a list of "statistically significant" voids is constructed and this list is used to derive a spectrum of void sizes. Finally, these chapters illustrate how this new technique of studying voids might serve as an important tool in determining the origins of the large-scale structure observed in the universe today.
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Includes bibliography.
Reference:
Kauffmann, G. 1990. Voids in the distribution of galaxies : an assessment of their significance and implications for large-scale structure formation theories. University of Cape Town.