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Title: VLA observations of unidentified Leiden-Berkeley Deep-Survey sources - Luminosity and redshift dependence of spectral properties

Journal Article · · Astronomical Journal; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/115423· OSTI ID:6710817
;  [1]
  1. JPL, Pasadena, CA (USA) Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Poona (India)

VLA observations of a complete subset of the Leiden-Berkeley Deep Survey sources that have S(1.4 GHz) greater than 10 mJy and are not optically identified down to F=22 mag are reported. By comparing the spectral and structural properties of the sources with samples from the literature, an attempt was made to disentangle the luminosity and redshift dependence of the spectral indices of extended emission in radio galaxies and of the incidence of compact steep-spectrum sources. It is found that the fraction of compact sources among those with a steep spectrum is related primarily to redshift, being much larger at high redshifts for sources of similar radio luminosity. Only a weak and marginally significant dependence of spectral indices of the extended sources on luminosity and redshift is found in samples selected at 1.4 and 2.7 GHz. It is pointed out that the much stronger correlation of spectral indices with luminosity may be arising partly from spectral curvature, and partly due to the preferential inclusion of very steep-spectrum sources from high redshift in low-frequency surveys. 54 refs.

OSTI ID:
6710817
Journal Information:
Astronomical Journal; (USA), Vol. 99; ISSN 0004-6256
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English