Are compact groups of galaxies physically dense?. Mamon, G., A. The Astrophysical Journal, 307:426, 8, 1986.
Are compact groups of galaxies physically dense? [pdf]Paper  Are compact groups of galaxies physically dense? [link]Website  abstract   bibtex   
The properties of the compact groups of galaxies cataloged by Hickson (1982) are compared to the output of over 1000 numerical simulations of small groups of galaxies. Rather than being dense physical systems or transient unbound cores of loose groups, it is argued that roughly half of the compact groups in Hickson's catalog are simply chance alignments of galaxies within loose groups.

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