Hierarchical Big Bang Cosmology

Abstract

McCREA1 has correctly stated that one of us (G. de V.) had criticized2 “current big bang cosmology” in reviewing the overwhelming evidence for hierarchical clustering in the galaxy distribution; it is incorrect, however, to assume that such criticism was directed only or even chiefly at big bang models. The principal intention was to point out the need to study the impact on cosmological theories of hierarchical structure in the distribution of matter. Hierarchical cosmology attempts to replace the idealized homogeneous isotropic models by more realistic ones, which have explicit structure on various large scales. It is in no way opposed, in principle, to big bang, steady state or most other current theories. In particular, a big bang hierarchical cosmological model has been described by Wertz3,4. Possible ways to introduce hierarchical fragmentation in the early stages of such a model have already been suggested by Ozernoy5 and others. Alternatively, the hierarchy might develop at a later stage, as proposed by Haggerty6.