Galaxy clustering and the method of voids

By means of the present method, volume-limited or apparent magnitude-limited data can be used to measure the generating function of the sequence of correlation amplitudes to which the probability of finding a void in a random galaxy distribution volume is related. The observed function can then be convolved to infer an underlying positive definite continuum density distribution, f(rho), and hence a consistent sequence of correlation amplitudes which are proportional to the irreducible moments of the continuum distribution. The method is noted to be useful for determinations of f(rho) in underdense regions. 7 references