The Square Kilometre Array (SKA)

Abstract:

We use three samples (3CRR, 6CE and 6C*) to investigate the radio luminosity function (RLF) for the 'most powerful' low-frequency selected radio sources. We find that the data are well fitted by a model with a constant ca-moving space density at high redshift as well as by one with a declining co-moving space density above some particular redshift. This behaviour is very similar to that inferred for steep-spectrum radio quasars by Willott et al (1998) in Line with the expectations of Unified Schemes. We conclude that there is as yet no evidence for a 'redshift cutoff' in the co-moving space densities of powerful classical double radio sources, and rule out a art-off at z less than or similar to 2.5.