VLBI Observations of Compact Extragalactic Radio Sources with Steep Spectra

Abstract

In recent years it has become clear that the common practice of dividing radio sources into two classes, compact flat-spectrum sources and extended steep-spectrum sources is too simplistic and that compact steep-spectrum sources (CSS) sources which seem to form a separate class in themselves, need to be taken into consideration. A majority of flat-spectrum sources are known to show asymmetric or D2 structures. In contrast to this many CSS sources when observed with subarcsecond resolution show symmetric structures typical of extended steep-spectrum sources. However, further high resolution observations of CSS objects are clearly needed to establish the structural differences, if any, between the two types of compact objects and to understand the interrelationship between the three classes of objects. In this connection we have undertaken a program to observe a sample of 18 CSS sources using the European VLBI network. The sample was selected from the compilation by Peacock and Wall (1982), according to the following criteria: (1) flux density > 1.8 Jy; (2) largest angular size < 1 arc sec; and (3) steep high frequency spectral index (> 0.5) and high degree of low frequency spectral curvature. Our aim was to find out the structures common to these sources and their relation to more commonly observed “centimetre excess” compact objects. Here we will present the preliminary results.