Luminosity volume test for compact steep spectrum radio sources

TL;DR

This study applies the V/Vm test to compact steep-spectrum radio sources, revealing their distribution characteristics and suggesting a link between spectral steepness and source evolution.

Contribution

It introduces a luminosity volume test application to a specific radio source class, providing insights into their spatial distribution and spectral properties.

Findings

<V/Vm> value is intermediate between extended steep-spectrum and compact flat-spectrum sources.

Splitting the sample by spectral steepness aligns <V/Vm> with known source classes.

Results imply a correlation between spectral steepness and source distribution.

Abstract

We apply the V/Vm test to a subsample of compact steep-spectrum sources from a complete sample of radio sources selected at 2.7 GHz. We find that the <V/Vm> has a value intermediate between those found for samples of extended steep-spectrum sources and those of compact flat-spectrum sources. If the sample is split into two further classes of sources having more steep and less steep spectra, the <V/Vm> values for these then tally roughly with those found for the extended steep-spectrum and compact flat-spectrum classes of sources. Implications of this result are discussed.