The cosmological evolution of flat-spectrum quasars

Abstract
The spatial distribution and luminosity functions of a complete sample of quasars from the ±4° declination strip of the Parkes 2.7-GHz survey have been investigated. The luminosity–volume (V/Vm) test strongly suggests that the flat-spectrum quasars which dominate the sample have an evolutionary history different from that of the steep-spectrum quasars which dominate the 3CR and 4C samples investigated previously. The bivariate luminosity function for the flat-spectrum quasars shows the same strong correlation between radio and optical luminosities exhibited by steep-spectrum quasars. The results of the luminosity–volume test considered in conjunction with radio structures, spectra, and source counts, lead to the tentative suggestion that the cosmological evolution of radio-active quasars is confined to those with extended radio structures.

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