HIGHER-ORDER CORRELATION-FUNCTIONS FOR QUASARS

The number of QSOs included in available complete samples already exce eds 1600. We evaluate their three- and four-point correlation function s and obtain 0.15 +/- 0.05 less than or equal to Q less than or equal to 1.30 +/- 0.37 and Q((4)) less than or equal to 4.9 +/- 1.9, respect ively. The available fair samples are still the sum of a number of dis connected areas. Inside all of them the average distance between nearb y QSOs widely exceeds the correlation distance. As a consequence of th is low density, the values allowed for Q and Q((4)) are quantized, alt hough the quantized levels depend on the characteristics of each conne cted subsample area. We give a quantitative evaluation of how denser a nd wider the connected subsamples should be, in order that limits on n -point functions can be substantially improved and apparent quantizati on effects can be overcome.