Abstract

The study investigated the spectral index of components of Compact Steep Spectrum sources (CSSs). The purpose of the study was to determine the symmetric nature of the CSSs. A sample of the CSS sources which is made up of 8 galaxies and 4 quasars was taken from the Extra Galactic Zoo for observation. These sources were observed at frequency ranges from 1.4-8.4 GHz. The spectral index of the Jet side and the Counter-Jet side lobes were estimated and their means were obtained. The result revealed asymmetry between the two sources which was more pronounced in galaxy (for Jet side) and in quasar (for Counter-Jet side). Further analysis revealed no statistically significant asymmetry in the mean values of CSSs and quasar sub-sample, while a statistically significant asymmetry exists for galaxy sub-sample.

Keywords: Compact steep spectrum sources, quasar, galaxy, spectral index asymmetry.