Statistical properties of extragalactic sources in the New Extragalactic WMAP Point Source (NEWPS) catalogue

Abstract

We present results on spectral index distributions, number counts, redshift distribution and other general statistical properties of extragalactic point sources in the New Extragalactic WMAP Point Source5σ (NEWPS) sample. The flux calibrations at all the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe channels have been reassessed both by comparison with ground-based observations and through estimates of the effective beam areas. The two methods yield consistent statistical correction factors. A search of the NASA Extragalactic Data base (NED) has yielded optical identifications for ∼89 per cent of sources in the complete subsample of 252 sources with signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) ≥ 5 and S≥ 1.1 Jy at 23 GHz; five sources turned out to be Galactic and were removed. The NED also yielded redshifts for ≃92 per cent of the extragalactic sources at |b| > 10°. Their distribution was compared with model predictions; the agreement is generally good but a possible discrepancy is noted. Using the 5 GHz fluxes from the GB6 or PMN surveys, we find that ∼76 per cent of the 191 extragalactic sources with S23 GHz > 1.3 Jy can be classified as flat-spectrum sources between 5 and 23 GHz. A spectral steepening is observed at higher frequencies: only 59 per cent of our sources are still flat-spectrum sources between 23 and 61 GHz, and the average spectral indexes steepen from 〈α235〉= 0.01 ± 0.03 to 〈α6141〉= 0.37 ± 0.03. We think, however, that the difference may be due to a selection effect. The source number counts have a close to Euclidean slope and are in good agreement with the predictions of the cosmological evolution model by De Zotti et al. The observed spectral index distributions were exploited to get model-independent extrapolations of counts to higher frequencies. The risks of such operations are discussed and reasons of discrepancies with other recent estimates are clarified.