CGRaBS: An All-Sky Survey of Gamma-Ray Blazar Candidates

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive all-sky survey of bright blazars selected by their radio spectra, aiming to identify gamma-ray AGN candidates for future multiwavelength studies with the LAT on GLAST.

Contribution

It introduces a uniform catalog of 1625 blazar candidates with radio and X-ray properties similar to known gamma-ray blazars, facilitating targeted follow-up observations.

Findings

85% of objects with R < 23 are classified

81% have measured redshifts

Sample covers the |b| > 10 deg sky

Abstract

We describe a uniform all-sky survey of bright blazars, selected primarily by their flat radio spectra, that is designed to provide a large catalog of likely gamma-ray AGN. The defined sample has 1625 targets with radio and X-ray properties similar to those of the EGRET blazars, spread uniformly across the |b| > 10 deg sky. We also report progress toward optical characterization of the sample; of objects with known R < 23, 85% have been classified and 81% have measured redshifts. One goal of this program is to focus attention on the most interesting (e.g., high redshift, high luminosity, ...) sources for intensive multiwavelength study during the observations by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on GLAST.