A Parkes half-Jansky sample of GHz peaked spectrum galaxies

Abstract

This paper describes the selection of a new southern/equatorial sample of gigahertz peaked spectrum (GPS) radio galaxies, and subsequent optical charge-coupled device imaging and spectroscopic observations using the ESO 3.6-m telescope. The sample consists of 49 sources with −40 ◦ 20 ◦ and S2.7 GHz >0.5 Jy, selected from the Parkes PKSCAT90 survey. Approximately 80 per cent of the sources are optically identified, and approximately half of the identifications have available redshifts. The R-band Hubble diagram and evolution of the host galaxies of GPS sources are reviewed.