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Space Distribution and Luminosity Functions of Quasi-Stellar Radio Sources
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The study derives the spatial distribution and optical and radio luminosity functions of quasi‑stellar radio sources from the highly complete Revised 3C Catalogue down to magnitude ~18 k, assuming cosmological redshifts. The quasar space density increases sharply with redshift, reaching 150–80 times the local value at z = 1, while the optical luminosity function is flat and the radio luminosity function is steep, rising by a factor of 3–4 per magnitude, and extending this radio function by one magnitude accounts for the Sandage–Luyten sky density estimate. Unpublished spectra and redshifts of quasi‑stellar sources are presented in the Appendix of the Astrophysical Journal (Feb 1968, DOI 10.1086/149446).
view Abstract Citations (1658) References (41) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Space Distribution and Luminosity Functions of Quasi-Stellar Radio Sources Schmidt, Maarten Abstract The distribution in space and both the optical and radio luminosity functions of quasi-stellar radio sources are derived The derivation is based on quasi-stellar sources in the Revised 3C Catalogue, in which they have been identified and observed with a high degree of completeness down to magnitude around 18k. The redshifts are assumed to be cosmological. The distribution in space is found to be strongly non-uniform. The space density, in co-moving coordinates, is increasing with redshift z, such that at z = 1 the density is around 150 and 80 times the local (z = 0) density, for qo = 0 and qo = 1, respectively. This density increase corresponds to a N(S) relation quite ~imi1ar to that exhibited by extragalactic radio sources. The optical luminosity function is relatively flat, i e., the numbers per magnitude depend little on the luminosity In contrast the radio luminosity function is rather steep, the number per magnitude increas- ing toward fainter radio luminosities by a factor of around three to four per magnitude. Extension of this radio luminosity function by 1~ magnitude is sufficient to account for the Sandage-Luyten estimate of the sky density of quasi-stellar objects. The local (z = 0) density of quasi-stellar objects can then be estimated at 7 X 1O~ and 12 X 1O-~ Mpc3, for qo = 0 and qo = 1, respectively. Unpublished spectra and redshifts of quasi-stellar sources are given in the Appendix Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: February 1968 DOI: 10.1086/149446 Bibcode: 1968ApJ...151..393S full text sources ADS | data products NED (7)