Void Probability Function inside cosmic voids: evidence for hierarchical scaling of high-order correlations in real space

Abstract

We compare the reduced void probability function (VPF) inside and outside of cosmic voids in the TNG300-1 simulation, both in real and simulated redshift space. The VPF is a special case of the counts-in-cells approach for extracting information of high-order clustering that is crucial for a full understanding of the distribution of galaxies. Previous studies have validated the hierarchical scaling paradigm of galaxy clustering moments, in good agreement with the "negative binomial" model, in redshift surveys, but have also reported that this paradigm is not valid in real space. However, in this work we find that hierarchical scaling can indeed be found in real space inside cosmic voids. This is well fitted by the negative binomial model. We find this result to be robust against changes in void identification, galaxy mass, random dilutions, and redshift. We also obtain that the VPF in real space at high redshift approaches the negative binomial model, and therefore it is similar to the VPF inside voids at the present time. This study points, for the first time, towards evidence of hierarchical scaling of high-order clustering of galaxies in real space inside voids, preserving the pristine structure formation processes of the Universe.