The Quasar Distribution in a Static Universe

Abstract

A crucial test of any cosmological model is the distribution of distant objects such as quasars. Because of well defined selection criteria quasars found by a ultraviolet excess (UVX) survey are ideal candidates for testing the model out to a redshift of z = 2.2. The static cosmology proposed by Crawford (1993) is used to analyse a recent quasar survey (BOYLE et al MNRAS 227, 717 1990). It is shown that the distribution of number of quasars from the survey as a function of redshift is in excellent agreement with the predictions of the model. A V/V_m test on 351 confirmed quasars with defined redshifts has a mean value of 0.568\pm 0.015 with the discrepancy being most likely due to incompleteness of the catalogue at low redshifts. For the redshift range $1.5 < z < 2.2$ where the accuracy of the cosmological model is critical V/V_m was 0.51 \pm 0.02. A well defined quasar luminosity function is derived that has a peak at M_B = -21.16 mag and is well fitted by a Gaussian distribution in absolute magnitude with a standard deviation of 1.52 magnitudes.