Space Densities for Powerful Radio Sources in the Light of Unification
Abstract
Description
Previous analyses of the space densities of extragalactic radio sources have proceeded on the assumption of two populations: flat-spectrum and steep-spectrum objects, compact and extended in radio structure respectively. It is now generally believed that anisotropic radiation and relativistic beaming effects mean that the steep-spectrum objects are the flat-spectrum objects viewed side-on. The implication is that all previous space density analyses start from the wrong basic premise. There are two unifying paradigms extant for the powerful radio sources, one relating flat-spectrum QSOs and the steep-spectrum FRII sources, the other the BL Lac objects with FRI sources. Our new investigation of space distribution and luminosity functions takes these two populations as a starting point in a new parametric analysis of space densities. The present paper describes the datasets, methodology and first results.
2 pages, 1 postscript figure, uses crckapb.sty style file; Proceedings of IAU 175, Bologna 1995, Kluwer Academic Press
2 pages, 1 postscript figure, uses crckapb.sty style file; Proceedings of IAU 175, Bologna 1995, Kluwer Academic Press