The large scale structure of the Universe: dynamical and statistical aspects

Abstract

The description of gravitational clustering is essentially statistical but its origin is dynamical. Hence both aspects of clustering: dynamical and statistical, must be understood in order to arrive at a proper appreciation of the subject of gravitational instability and the formation and evolution of the large scale structure of the Universe. Key dynamical aspects of gravitational clustering such as the Zeldovich approximation and its extension-the adhesion model are reviewed. Statistical indicators of clustering such as the correlation function and percolation theory, as applied to the large scale structure of the Universe have also been focussed on.