TYPICAL SCALES IN THE CLUSTERING OF THE UNIVERSE

Abstract

The cosmic density perturbations are not completely scale-free, i.e. preferential scales should exist in the clustering of the universe. Observations do show the existence of the typical scales, namely, the distribution of various objects cannot be described by a simple fractal law. However, the standard two-point correlation function statistic is ineffective in detecting the typical scales. A better method based on identifying the periodic components in two-point correlation functions was developed. Using this method, the typical scales have been systematically searched for in samples of galaxies, clusters of galaxies, quasars and absorption lines of quasars. It showed the existence of typical scales in the range of 20–130 h−1 Mpc with high confidence. In particular, two typical scales, 60−1 Mpc and 130−1 Mpc, have been detected in all the samples being analysed. Such “universal” scales are probably the characteristic scales in the primordial fluctuations of the universe. Other theoretical implications of the detected typical scales have also been reviewed.