discovering and measuring horizon-scale gradients in large-scale structure

Kate Storey-Fisher (NYU) and I are advising an undergraduate research project for Abby Williams (NYU) in cosmology. Williams is looking at the question: How precisely can we say that the large-scale structure in the Universe is homogenous? Are there gradients in the amplitude of galaxy clustering (or other measures)? Her plan is to use Storey-Fisher's new clustering tools, which can look at variations in clustering without binning or patchifying the space. In the short term, however, we are starting in patches, just to establish a baseline. Today things came together and Williams can show that if we simulate a toy universe with a clustering gradient, she can discover and accurately measure that gradient, using analyses in patches. The first stage of this is to do some forecasts or information theory.