Iterative Maps with Hierarchical Clustering for the Observed Scales of Astrophysical and Cosmological Structures

Abstract

We derive, in order of magnitude, the observed astrophysical and cosmological scales in the Universe, from neutron stars to superclusters of galaxies, up to, asymptotically, the observed radius of the Universe. This result is obtained by introducing a recursive scheme of alternating hierachical mechanisms of three-dimensional and two-dimensional close packings of gravitationally interacting objects. The iterative scheme yields a rapidly converging geometric sequence, which can be described as a hierarchical clustering of aggregates, having the observed radius of the Universe as its fixed point.

4 pages; RevTex, prl, twocolumn, aps