COMPACT STEEP-SPECTRUM RADIO-SOURCES AND UNIFICATION SCHEMES

We have determined the symmetry parameters of a sample of well-observed compact steep-spectrum radio sources (CSSs) and have compared these properties with those of the more extended radio galaxies and quasars of similar luminosity from the 3CR sample, in order to investigate their evolution and consistency with the orientation-based unified schemes. Many of the CSSs are believed to occur in dense, inhomogeneous and possibly asymmetric environments caused by interactions and mergers of galaxies. We show that, while the symmetry parameters and the degree of core prominence for the CSSs are broadly consistent with the predictions of the orientation-based unified schemes for radio galaxies and quasars, there is strong evidence of intrinsic asymmetries as well.