The 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey: Voids and hierarchical scaling models

We study the void distribution in the completed 2dFGRS using counts-in-cells to measure the reduced void probability function (VPF). Theoretically, the VPF connects the distribution of voids to the moments of galaxy clustering of all orders. The reduced VPF measured from the 2dFGRS is in excellent agreement with the paradigm of hierarchical scaling of the galaxy clustering moments. This scaling results in a universal form for the VPF when plotted as a function of N̄ ξ̄2, where N̄ is the expected mean number of galaxies and ξ̄2 is the volume-averaged 2-point correlation function. Models of galaxy clustering which display hierarchical scaling yield different predictions for the reduced VPF. The accuracy of our measurement of the VPF from the 2dFGRS is such that we can rule out, at a very high significance, popular models for clustering, such as the lognormal distribution. We demonstrate that the negative binomial model gives a very good approximation to the 2dFGRS data over a wide range of scales, out to at least 20hMpc. We find little dependence of the reduced VPF on galaxy luminosity.