Evolutionary models for radio sources from compact sources to classical doubles |
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| Authors: | P Alexander |
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| Institution: | Astrophysics Group, Cavendish Laboratory, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HE |
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| Abstract: | An analytical model is presented for the evolution of powerful double radio sources on small physical scales less than about 100 kpc when radiative losses can be neglected. The self-similar model of Kaiser & Alexander is extended to allow for expansion in an atmosphere with a King profile. Distribution functions for the number of sources in a logarithmic interval of linear size within a flux-limited sample are calculated and compared with observation. The observational data can be reproduced if it is assumed that there exists a population of sources that evolve and survive to sizes greater than the core radius, together with a population that suffer disruption of their jets before escaping the core radius. The latter population, while they may be regarded as frustrated sources, are not old sources, but just short-lived. |
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| Keywords: | galaxies: active galaxies: evolution galaxies: jets |
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