A correlation test of the intrinsic interpretation of QSO absorption redshifts

It is noted that the general intrinsic interpretation of QSO absorption redshifts predicts a high probability of clustering for the expulsion velocities of clouds ejected from a QSO core and that a correlation function has been defined which depends on the probability of clustering of three or more expulsion velocities. A test of this correlation is formulated which utilizes data on pairs of QSOs with similar emission redshifts and at least three well established absorption redshifts with corresponding expulsion velocities greater than 0.02c. It is shown that the correlation should be positive (maximum value +100%) if the absorption systems are intrinsic and correlated, zero if there is no physical connection among these systems, and negative if a strong anticorrelation exists or QSOs tend to eject one or two clouds at well separated characteristic velocities. Data on five QSOs are analyzed, and large positive values are obtained for the correlations.