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# The Properties of the X-Ray-Selected EMSS Sample of BL Lac Objects

## 1. Introduction

The Einstein Medium Sensitivity Survey (EMSS; Gioia et al. 1990; Stocke et al. 1991, hereafter S91; Maccacaro et al. 1994) contains 835 faint ($`f_x>7`$ x $`10^{14}`$ ergs cm-2 s-1 in the 0.3–3.5 keV soft X-ray band) X-ray sources discovered serendipitously with Einstein Imaging Proportional Counter (IPC) images obtained of various targets at high Galactic latitude ($`b>20`$°). At the time of this writing, the EMSS is still the largest statistically-complete sample of faint X-ray sources that can be used to define complete samples of X-ray selected AGN, clusters of galaxies, Galactic stars and BL Lac objects. The primary virtue of the EMSS compared to recent survey work done with ROSAT (e.g., Bade et al. 1998) is that the EMSS sample has been thoroughly scrutinized over the years, with periodic updates of identifications and properties (e.g., Maccacaro et al. 1994; Wolter et al. 1994; Perlman et al. 1996a, hereafter P96; Rector, Stocke & Perlman 1999, hereafter RSP99). And more detailed observations of this sample exist than for any other BL Lac sample, excepting perhaps the 1Jy radio-selected BL Lac sample (Stickel et al. 1991; Rector & Stocke 2000, hereafter RS00). The primary purpose of this paper is to provide updated information on the EMSS sample of BL Lacertae objects.

Morris et al. 1991, hereafter M91, first defined a plausibly complete subsample of 22 EMSS BL Lacs with $`f_x>5`$ x $`10^{13}`$ ergs cm-2 s-1 in the 0.3–3.5 keV IPC band and declination $`\delta 20`$°. M91 also obtained high signal-to-noise spectra of these objects, from which redshifts were derived for most of them. The M91 BL Lac sample was drawn from a subset of bright EMSS sources which were thought to be completely and correctly identified. However, investigations of this sample continued, first by obtaining ROSAT PSPC soft X-ray spectra of the M91 sample to measure X-ray spectral indices to determine more accurate X-ray flux densities from IPC count rates and to determine $`K`$-corrections (P96). P96 also delineated the criteria by which we identified sources as low-luminosity BL Lac candidates. Then by using the ROSAT High Resolution Imager (HRI) we identified additional BL Lacs which were originally misidentified as clusters of galaxies (RSP99). These new X-ray images and X-ray spectral indices, in conjunction with new optical spectroscopy and VLA mapping, have increased the M91 BL Lac sample to 26 objects and the full EMSS sample to 44 objects.

The properties of the EMSS BL Lac objects have been presented in part in several publications. The original description of the X-ray selected BL Lac (XBL) class was given in Stocke et al. (1985) using EMSS and HEAO-1 A2 BL Lacs, in which the original distinctions between XBLs and radio-selected BL Lacs (RBLs) were described. The original discussions of the source counts of XBLs and the “negative” cosmological evolution of this class can be found in Maccacaro et al. (1983). Subsequent papers give updates on the sample membership (S91; P96; RSP99), source counts (e.g., Wolter et al. 1991) and the luminosity function, cosmic evolution and $`V_e/V_a`$ test (M91; P96; RSP99). High signal-to-noise optical spectra were presented by M91 and RSP99, high dynamic range VLA radio maps of many of the M91 sample by Perlman & Stocke (1993; hereafter PS93) and RSP99, ROSAT PSPC X-ray spectra for the M91 sample by P96, deep optical imaging for host galaxy morphology and luminosity by Wurtz, Stocke & Yee (1996), clustering environment by Wurtz, Stocke, Ellingson & Yee (1997), infrared photometry by Gear (1993) and optical polarimetry by Jannuzi, Smith & Elston (1993, 1994).

The purpose of this publication is to present the EMSS BL Lac sample in its entirety, with additions to the M91 sample as well as the introduction of the new, probably complete “D40” sample (§2). We update and describe the observational properties (§3), with attention to the criteria adopted to define the sample (§4). Individual objects are discussed in §5, and we discuss the completeness of the sample in §6. With the updated M91 and new D40 samples we derive the X-ray luminosity function (XLF), $`V_e/V_a`$ and implied cosmological evolution for XBLs (§7). In §8 we discuss the implications of this work for unification models. Finally, we summarize the most important results as well as suggest future work (§9). Throughout this paper we assume a standard cosmology with $`H_0=50`$ km s-1 Mpc-1 and $`q_0=0.0`$. We also assume the notation $`f(\nu )\nu ^{+\alpha }`$.

## 2. The EMSS Sample of BL Lacertae Objects

The revised sample of 44 EMSS BL Lac objects is listed in Table 1 along with a summary of their basic properties. Twenty-six of these BL Lacs now satisfy the flux and declination criteria for the M91 statistically-complete sample (see also P96 & RSP99), increasing the original sample size by four. Browne & Marchã (1993, hereafter BM93) recognized that a few of the EMSS sources originally identified as clusters of galaxies instead might be BL Lacs. RSP99 tested the BM93 hypothesis by obtaining ROSAT HRI images of ten of the most suspect sources and found that four of them were unresolved at the position of a radio galaxy in the cluster. Subsequent optical spectroscopy showed evidence for a depressed CaII break, which either met or came close to meeting the criteria suggested by S91 for inclusion in the BL Lac class (see §4.1). The other properties of these sources (e.g., radio luminosity and structure, overall spectral energy distributions) were also a good match to those of other XBLs, strongly suggesting that these are low luminosity BL Lacs as predicted by BM93. All four sources which appeared point-like to the HRI (MS 1019.0+5139, MS 1050.7+4946, MS 1154.1+4255 & MS 1209.0+3917) had count rates as measured by the ROSAT HRI, which were comparable to or greater than that expected from the IPC discovery count rates using the observed soft X-ray spectral indices. Two of these objects, MS 1019.0+5139 & MS 1050.7+4946, match the M91 selection criteria and are now included in the M91 sample. A fifth source (MS 0011.7+0837) was partially resolved by the HRI (RSP99) and the HRI count rate was considerably lower than could account for the full IPC discovery flux. In RSP99 we postulated that both a BL Lac point source and diffuse cluster emission were present in this case but assigned the bulk of the IPC discovery flux to the cluster so that this potential BL Lac is not included in the complete EMSS sample. The optical image of MS 0011.7+0837 (Gioia & Luppino 1994) shows a cluster surrounding this source, consistent with this interpretation.

A similar HRI observation was made of MS 1333.3+1725 by Hattori & Morikawa (private comm). We have analyzed this observation in the manner of RSP99 and have confirmed the presence of an X-ray point source coincident with a radio source and an elliptical galaxy which has a depressed CaII break. This source is now included in the EMSS sample as well. Because RSP99 targeted all of the suspect clusters in the M91 sample and most of the suspect clusters at lower flux densities and declinations (including MS 1333.3+1725, which was originally on our target list), we are confident that the M91 sample is virtually complete as of this writing and the entire EMSS BL Lac sample is largely complete for reasons discussed in detail in RSP99.

In addition to the two low-luminosity BL Lacs discussed above, two previously identified BL Lac objects, MS 2336.5+0517 & MS 2347.4+1924, are now included in the M91 complete sample due to a measured or estimated soft X-ray spectral index which is steeper than $`\alpha _x=1`$ (as was assumed by M91 for all sources). P96 found that the soft X-ray spectral indices of EMSS XBLs are quite steep ($`\alpha _x=1.38`$), not only altering the conversion of IPC count rate to flux units but also providing a useful discriminant between X-ray emission dominated by diffuse thermal bremsstrahlung (which has a flat energy distribution with $`\alpha _x0`$ in the IPC band) from emission dominated by a nonthermal BL Lac nucleus. Using these new spectral data to compute flux densities from IPC count rates raises the observed flux of these two sources just above the M91 flux limit. The reader should be aware that the use of ROSAT PSPC spectral indices obtained years after the Einstein IPC discovery observations does not take into account potential X-ray spectral variability, by which sources usually harden as they brighten (Giommi et al. 1990). P96 discusses this and the other effects that source variability can have on the EMSS complete BL Lac source catalogue.

In this paper we present a new, nearly completely identified subsample (hereafter called the “D40” sample) of 41 EMSS BL Lacs bounded by $`f_x2`$ x $`10^{13}`$ ergs cm-2 s-1 in the IPC band and by the declination of our completed VLA observations ($`\delta 40`$°). This sample includes all the objects in the M91 sample plus 15 more; only three known EMSS BL Lacs are not members of the D40 sample because they are too far south.

Table 1 includes the following basic data by column: (1) object name; (2) the complete sample (M91 or D40) to which the object belongs (if either). Note that all members of the M91 sample are also in the D40 sample; (3) redshift as determined by cross-correlation methods (see below); (4) X-ray power-law energy spectral index as measured by the ROSAT PSPC in the (0.2–2.4 keV) band or estimated using the Padovani & Giommi (1996) $`\alpha _x\alpha _{ox}`$ correlation (entries of this latter sort are denoted as uncertain); (5) the Einstein IPC discovery flux in $`10^{13}`$ ergs cm-2 s-1 in the (0.3–3.5 keV) band assuming the X-ray spectral indices from column (4) and Galactic neutral hydrogen columns from Gioia et al. (1990). The flux densities quoted are all unabsorbed as was done for all extragalactic sources in Gioia et al. (1990); (6) the monochromatic IPC X-ray flux in $`\mu `$Jy at 2 keV assuming the spectral indices in column (4); (7) the $`V`$-band magnitude (see S91 for discussion); (8) the total radio flux at 5 GHz from S91. The entries for MS 0622.5–5256 & MS 1333.3+1725 are previously unpublished values obtained at the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) and the VLA respectively; (9) and (10) the two-point optical-to-X-ray ($`\alpha _{ox}`$) and radio-to-optical ($`\alpha _{ro}`$) spectral indices where $`\alpha _{ox}`$ = –log($`S_{2\mathrm{k}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}}/S_{2500\mathrm{A}}`$)/2.605 and $`\alpha _{ro}`$ = log($`S_{5\mathrm{G}\mathrm{H}\mathrm{z}}/S_{2500\mathrm{A}}`$)/5.38 (S91; see Section 2.3 for details). X-ray positions are given in Gioia et al. (1990); radio and optical positions are given in S91.

Table 2 gives the monochromatic X-ray, optical and radio luminosities for EMSS BL Lacs, by column: (1) object name; (2) the X-ray luminosity at 2 keV in the BL Lac rest frame including $`K`$-corrections based upon column (3) of Table 1; (3) the optical luminosity at 5500Å in the BL Lac restframe assuming $`\alpha _o=1`$; (4) the radio luminosity at 5 GHz in the BL Lac restframe assuming $`\alpha _r=0.5`$. All luminosities are given in W Hz-1. Luminosities marked with colons are based upon uncertain redshift information. A single colon indicates a probable redshift, and a double colon indicates a highly speculative redshift.

## 3. Observations and Reduction

### 3.1. Optical Spectroscopy

One of the virtues of X-ray selected BL Lac objects (XBLs) is that their optical spectra often show the presence of weak stellar absorption lines, consistent with the optical imaging which shows an underlying early-type galaxy morphology (e.g. Urry et al. 2000: Scarpa et al. 2000; Wurtz, Stocke & Yee 1996; Abraham et al. 1991). Due to this characteristic most of the EMSS BL Lac objects have measured redshifts as shown in Table 1. In order to determine consistent redshifts we have employed the cross-correlation techniques as described in Ellingson & Yee (1994), which have been used on moderate to low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) spectra of normal cluster galaxies to some advantage (e.g., Yee, Ellingson & Carlberg 1996). This cross-correlation method obtains accurate redshift values ($`\pm 100`$ km s-1) and quantifiable reliability assessments based upon the height of the peak in the cross-correlation (the “$`R`$ value”). Based upon numerous experiments using simulated and actual data, Ellingson & Yee (1994) concluded that a redshift determination with $`R>4`$ was “firm” ($`99`$% confidence) while those with $`3<R<4`$ were “possible” (90–95% confidence). Because our BL Lac spectra have much higher SNR but lower contrast features, it was not clear how robust this cross-correlation technique would be given the somewhat different use. However, all but one of the M91 redshift determinations, which were made by identifying individual spectral features, were recovered by this process to within $`\pm 0.001`$ in $`z`$. For the one remaining object (MS 0205.7+3509), the cross-correlation technique on the original spectrum failed to recover the redshift quoted in M91 of $`z=0.318`$ but a subsequent cross-correlation using a residual spectrum obtained after subtracting a power-law best-fit in the blue ($`<5000`$Å; see Figure 1) did recover this redshift. CaII absorption weakly appears in both of our spectra of this BL Lac. Not all spectra were available in a form amenable to the cross-correlation process; redshifts quoted for these remaining objects were obtained by averaging the measured location of individual lines. None of these spectra appear to be at all ambiguous as to their redshift values. However, a few of these spectra are quite modest to poor in SNR because the only spectra available for these sources (MS 0331.3–3629; MS 0350.0–3712, MS 1205.7–2921 and MS 1219.9+7542) are the original EMSS classification spectra obtained at the Steward Observatory Bok 90” and Las Campanas Observatory (LCO) DuPont 100” telescopes. While these spectra meet or nearly meet the minimum SNR required to include or reject an AGN from the BL Lac class, better quality spectra should be obtained to provide more definitive data for these four objects.

In several other cases the BL Lac redshift placed the CaII H&K lines near the “join” in the original M91 spectrum obtained using the Double Spectrograph (Oke & Gunn 1982) at the Palomar 200” telescope. Because the SNR of these spectra are significantly poorer and systematics considerably worse near the join than at other wavelengths, we obtained new spectra of these few BL Lacs at the Multiple Mirror Telescope Observatory (MMTO), which verified the redshifts in all cases. New spectra were also obtained at the MMTO for BL Lac candidates at lower X-ray flux densities and declinations than the M91 sample objects. All BL Lac candidates suggested by S91 are confirmed as BL Lacs by these spectra and, in many cases, redshifts were obtained.

We have also used the spectra in Figure 1 to determine the CaII H&K “break strength” and the equivalent width or limits on equivalent width for any emission lines that might be found within the wavelength range of our observations. In the manner of Dressler & Shectman (1987) we have used the rest-frame wavelength regions, region $`A=37503950`$Å and region $`B=40504250`$Å to define the flux depression across the H&K “break”. We define the CaII “break strength” as $`B_{4000}=(f_Bf_A)/f_B`$. This is related to the $`D(4000)`$ break defined by Dressler & Shectman (1987) by $`B_{4000}=11/D(4000)`$. By this scheme a normal elliptical galaxy or radio galaxy in the current epoch has $`B_{4000}=0.5\pm 0.1`$. S91 suggested a limit on $`B_{4000}`$ values for BL Lac objects of $`B_{4000}0.25`$ but RSP99 showed that some EMSS BL Lacs exceeded that limit slightly; and Marchã et al. (1996) estimate that galaxies with $`B_{4000}0.4`$ have a high probability ($``$95%) of possessing a weak, non-thermal continuum in addition to the starlight in their spectra. Emission line equivalent widths and 3$`\sigma `$ limits are measured in the normal fashion then corrected to rest-frame values in order not to bias the BL Lac class against higher redshift objects. Non-detection limits are obtained assuming a velocity width of 1000 km s-1, which is roughly twice the resolution of the spectra. We note that equivalent widths are measured against the total continuum, which includes the nonthermal continuum of the AGN as well as the starlight from the host galaxy.

Table 3 presents the basic information obtained from these optical spectra including (by column number): (1) EMSS alphanumeric name; (2) redshift determined by cross-correlation. A single colon indicates an uncertain redshift, whereas a double colon indicates a highly speculative redshift (see §5 for discussion of individual sources); (3) “R-value” of the cross-correlation, which measures the confidence level of the redshift determination (see above); (4) the CaII H&K “break strength” as defined above with $`1\sigma `$ limits; (5) the minimum emission line $`W_\lambda `$ detectable in the spectrum at $`5000`$Å (in Å). The best quality spectrum is used if more than one is available. Notice that a few of these $`W_\lambda `$ limits slightly exceed the BL Lac criterion suggested in S91; (6-9) Rest-frame emission-line 3$`\sigma `$ luminosity limits for MgII $`\lambda `$2798, \[O II\] $`\lambda `$3727, \[O III\] $`\lambda `$5007 and H$`\alpha `$ respectively in log (ergs cm-2 s-1 Å-1). Actual detections are listed in bold; and tentative line identifications are marked with colons. A blank entry indicates that the wavelengths of these lines are not present in the spectra in hand. Figure 1 presents the spectra for the entire EMSS sample, which were obtained at the MMTO, at the Canada France Hawaii 3.6m Telescope (CFHT) at the Las Campanas (LCO) Du Pont 100” Telescope or at the KPNO 2.1m as indicated on the figures themselves. Figure 1 does not include spectra for MS 0622.5–5256 and MS 1219.9+7542, which are described in Stocke et al. (1985) but are not available, and MS 2316.3–4222, which is presented in Crawford & Fabian (1994).

### 3.2. Radio Continuum Imaging

Six centimeter (5 GHz) snapshot observations have been obtained for all extragalactic and unidentified sources in the EMSS at $`\delta 40`$° (S91). These VLA snapshots have typical flux limits of 1 mJy. Radio observations with similar flux limits at 6cm have also been made for selected sources with $`\delta <40`$° with the ATCA and reported in Maccacaro et al. (1994). The basic 6cm data obtained for all the sources are compiled in Table 1. Twenty centimeter continuum radio maps for the brightest radio sources in the M91 BL Lac sample were also obtained at the VLA and published in PS93. However, a concern has been that Doppler boosting could have biased this subset towards the more highly core-dominated radio sources amongst the M91 sample, making the PS93 observations not entirely representative of EMSS XBLs.

To provide an unbiased look at the radio structure of XBLs, we have obtained new, high SNR ($`\sigma 0.05`$ mJy) VLA A- and B-array 20cm radio maps of ten more EMSS XBLs. A B-array “snapshot” of MS 1207.9+3945 was also obtained, thereby completing 20cm VLA observations of all the XBLs in the M91 sample. The core flux was measured by fitting the core with a single Gaussian with the synthesized beam’s parameters. The extended flux was determined by measuring the total flux within a box enclosing the entire source and then subtracting the core flux. The maps of resolved sources are presented in Figure 2. RSP99 have already presented the VLA map for MS 1050.7+4946, which was newly identified as a low-luminosity BL Lac. The radio data for these sources are given in Table 4 (by column): (1) EMSS source name; (2) core source position (in J2000 coordinates); (3) the core flux (in mJy). The beam size in arcsecs is given below in parentheses; (4) the extended flux (in mJy). Limits for unresolved sources are estimated as described below; (5) the uncorrected core radio power (in W Hz-1); (6) the uncorrected (top) and corrected (bottom) extended radio power (in W Hz-1; see below for discussion of the applied corrections); (7); the ratio ($`f`$) of uncorrected core flux to uncorrected (top) and corrected (bottom) extended flux. The radio luminosities and the core to extended flux ratios in columns 5, 6 & 7 are $`K`$-corrected by assuming $`\alpha =0.3`$ for the core and $`\alpha =0.8`$ for extended structure. Similar data for the other M91 XBLs can be found in PS93 in Table 2. At this point all EMSS BL Lacs which qualify to be members of the M91 sample have been mapped by us with the VLA. The flux and LAS corrections are taken from PS93 and described below.

Surprisingly, despite the quality of these new maps, extended flux was detected for only four sources. Where extended emission was not detected, conservative upper limits on extended radio power levels were obtained by assuming that each source has uniformly bright extended emission at the 1$`\sigma `$ detection level over a 3000 kpc2 area surrounding the core. Because the extended emission seen in resolved XBLs have radio power levels typical of FR–1s, we have corrected the extended and core powers and the core dominance values for the effects of surface brightness dimming and physical resolution of FR 1 type sources as described by PS93. These corrections are strongly dependent on the source structure, which for these objects is not well known; we assume a wide-angle-tail structure, which is the more conservative correction of the two morphologies modeled in PS93. The resulting values are shown in Table 4; the sources mapped in RSP99 are also included in Table 4 since RSP99 did not make these corrections. As can be seen in the maps and from the extended power levels in Table 4, as with those M91 XBLs already mapped, XBLs in the M91 sample have extended power levels and morphologies similar to FR–1 radio galaxies. A comparison of the radio structure and power levels for EMSS XBLs and FR–1s is presented in §8; the radio structure of EMSS XBLs are compared to 1Jy RBLs in RS00.

### 3.3. X-Ray Imaging

#### 3.3.1 ROSAT PSPC Observations

Soft X-ray spectral indices are required to accurately determine both the detection flux densities from IPC count rates and $`K`$-corrections. The measured entries for soft X-ray spectral indices in Table 1 come either from the pointed observations of P96 and Blair, Georgantopolous & Stewart (1997) or from observations found in the White, Giommi & Angelini (1994) Catalogue (WGACAT) of serendipitous sources detected with the ROSAT PSPC. Where individual BL Lacs were observed on multiple occasions in the WGACAT, we have used mean values. For those few EMSS BL Lacs without soft X-ray spectral data, we have estimated spectral indices using the $`\alpha _x\alpha _{ox}`$ correlation found by Padovani & Giommi (1996). While this correlation has a substantial spread ($`\mathrm{\Delta }\alpha _x=0.5`$) at any single value of $`\alpha _{ox}`$, these estimates are typically a factor of two more accurate than using the $`\alpha _x`$ of P96 for any individual object. The uncertain $`\alpha _x`$ values obtained using the Padovani & Giommi (1996) correlation method are marked in Table 1 with colons.

#### 3.3.2 ROSAT HRI Observations

In addition to the observations presented in RSP99, a search of the ROSAT WGACAT found serendipitous HRI observations for five more BL Lacs in the EMSS sample: MS 0331.3–3629, MS 0607.9+7108, MS 0737.0+7436, MS 1219.9+7542 and MS 1332.6–2935. In addition, a targeted observation of MS 1312.1–4221 was also found; and as such this is the only source which was sufficiently “on-axis” for the point-source analysis of RSP99 to be applied. The X-ray source is found to be unresolved and at the radio and optical position. MS 0331.3–3629, MS 0607.9+7108, MS 0737.0+7436 and MS 1219.9+7542 also appear to be unresolved at the radio and optical position. MS 1332.6–2935 is too far off-axis to determine its morphology without doubt, although the HRI observation does confirm the X-ray source location to be coincident with the optical and radio positions.

### 3.4. Broadband Spectral Properties

As radio and X-ray surveys have been efficient in discovering them, BL Lacs historically have been divided into the XBL and RBL classes based upon the discovery method. Recently this terminology has been superseded by a classification scheme based upon the broadband spectral energy distributions (SEDs), wherein the luminosities of “high-energy-peaked” BL Lacs (HBLs) peak in the UV/X-ray and “low-energy-peaked” BL Lacs (LBLs) peak in the IR/optical. The division between the two classes is based upon the ratio of the X-ray (1 keV) to radio (5 GHz) flux densities $`f_x/f_r`$ (e.g., Padovani & Giommi 1995), with a somewhat arbitrary dividing line between the HBL and LBL classes at log($`f_x/f_r`$) $`5.5`$ (e.g., Wurtz et al. 1996). Most XBLs are HBLs and most RBLs are LBLs, although there are exceptions in both cases.

In this paper we use the term XBL to describe EMSS BL Lacs because it is an X-ray selected sample; radio emission is not a priori considered in the selection process. We note that a sharp division between HBL and LBL is no longer appropriate, as recent surveys which use both radio and X-ray detection as selection criteria (e.g., the RGB; Laurent-Muehleisen et al. 1999 and the DXRBS; Perlman et al. 1998) have found prodigious numbers of “intermediate” BL Lacs with log($`f_x/f_r`$) $`5.5`$, indicating that there is a continuum of spectral energy distributions among BL Lacs and that the historical HBL/LBL division is primarily due to selection effects.

## 4. BL Lac Classification

Several papers (e.g., Marchã et al. 1996) have raised the question of what are appropriate criteria for the BL Lac classification. And several surveys, e.g., the RGB (Laurent-Muehleisen et al. 1999), the DXRBS (Perlman et al. 1998) and the REX (Caccianiga et al. 1999) contain many BL Lac-like objects which do not meet the original BL Lac criteria. Here we discuss the classification scheme first proposed by S91 and suggest modifications based upon the EMSS sample.

### 4.1. Spectroscopic Criteria

The spectroscopic criteria originally proposed by S91 and slightly modified by Stickel et al. (1991) are: (#1) a CaII H&K “break strength” $`B_{4000}0.25`$ and (#2) a rest-frame equivalent width of any possible emission lines present of $`W_\lambda 5`$Å. RSP99 showed that the strict application of criterion #1 is only partially successful in that it would eliminate eight objects whose CaII break strengths slightly exceed the limit (see Table 3). Nevertheless the BL Lac classification seems most appropriate for these objects given their luminous, point-like X-ray emission and low-power, core-dominated radio emission. Except for MS 2306.1–2236, each of these sources has been observed with the ROSAT HRI and found to be unresolved, confirming a generic AGN classification. And MS 2306.1–2236 was found by the PSPC to be variable and to possess a steep X-ray spectral index, making the X-ray emission inconsistent with being a diffuse cluster source. Since these X-ray sources are much too luminous to be normal low-power radio galaxies (see e.g., Fabbiano et al. 1987) and since they lack the strong emission lines seen in other AGN, the BL Lac classification seems the most appropriate. Although this collection of evidence seems conclusive enough, the detection of optical continuum polarization would be definitive and observations should be made to confirm these inferences. Polarimetric observations blueward of the H&K break are ideal because they will suffer the least amount of starlight contamination from the host galaxy. While one might suspect that we have misidentified other BL Lacs with even larger $`B_{4000}`$ values, ROSAT HRI images of other EMSS clusters containing radio galaxies have confirmed their extended nature (RSP99). These new identifications stretch criterion #1 towards values found in normal ellipticals and FR–1 radio galaxies (Owen, Ledlow & Keel 1996), which also lack strong emission lines. For example, Dressler & Shectman (1985) found $`<5`$% of nearby cluster galaxies have $`B_{4000}<0.4`$ and only $`1`$% of the full sample have both low break strengths and emission lines weak enough to qualify as a BL Lac by criterion #2. The continuum of $`B_{4000}`$ values seen in the EMSS survey between BL Lac and radio galaxy (Figure 6 of RSP99) indicates that the CaII break strength is a poor criterion when considered alone. However it is an important method for discovering or confirming low luminosity BL Lac objects. For example, in RSP99 we confirmed the suggestion of Owen et al. (1996) that 3C264 and IC 310 are low luminosity BL Lac objects, a suggestion based upon the reduced CaII break strength of these nearby cluster radio galaxies. A continuum of $`B_{4000}`$ values has also been seen in other samples of radio-loud AGN (e.g., Laurent-Muehleisen et al. 1998 and Caccianiga et al. 1999).

There are no BL Lac objects in Table 1 whose emission line rest equivalent widths exceed the 5Å limit of criterion #2, although we note that a few objects have poor spectra which do not completely rule out the presence of $``$5Å lines (also see the discussion of MS 1256.3+0151 in §5). All weak-lined objects that we have classified as QSOs in the EMSS have rest frame $`W_\lambda 30`$Å and several have noticeably broad emission (see spectra of these weak-lined AGN in Figure 11 of S91). Also, the few weak-line QSOs with $`W_\lambda <50`$Å in the full S91 sample are optically unpolarized (Jannuzi et al. 1993; M91) and only one of these weak-lined AGN is radio-loud (MS 0815.7+5233). Since the EMSS BL Lacs (and XBLs in general) were found to be only moderately optically variable (typically $`<1`$ mag.; Stocke et al. 1985; Jannuzi et al. 1993; S91), significant changes in emission line equivalent widths would not be expected for XBLs depending upon the epoch of observation. However, several radio-selected 1Jy BL Lacs have emission lines which exceed the proposed equivalent width guideline and blur the distinction between the BL Lac and “blazar” categories (e.g., B2 1308+326; Stickel et al. 1991; see also RS00 for other examples). Criterion #2 therefore remains a sufficient discriminant in that no EMSS object with rest frame 5Å $`W_\lambda 50`$Å has been excluded from the BL Lac sample based upon criterion #2 alone.

In summary, based upon current data the BL Lac spectroscopic criteria suggested by S91 should be modified slightly in order to include all EMSS BL Lacs. Several of the new EMSS BL Lacs require the CaII break strength criterion to be relaxed to at least $`B_{4000}<0.33`$. We note that four EMSS XBLs have break strengths which even exceed this new limit, but in all cases the spectra are too poor in quality to accurately measure the break. No modification of the $`W_\lambda `$ criterion is required. The less restrictive criteria proposed by Marchã et al. (1996) includes all of the BL Lacs discovered within the EMSS. However we note that their criteria should be used only in conjunction with other observed properties, including, e.g., point-like X-ray emission, optical polarization, coincident radio emission or a unique spectral energy distribution because, as described above, some weak-lined AGN in the EMSS which meet the Marchã et al. (1996) criteria are optically unpolarized and radio quiet, arguing against a BL Lac identification.

### 4.2. Photometric Criteria

Besides optical spectroscopic criteria for the classification of all EMSS X-ray sources, a secondary set of photometric criteria were also suggested by S91 to verify the spectroscopic classifications. For the BL Lac class, these included:

(1) Radio Emission. While originally not included as a BL Lac requirement in order to leave open the possibility of radio-quiet BL Lac objects, none were found by S91 (see also Stocke et al. 1990). To our knowledge, no BL Lac has been found to be radio-quiet (e.g., Bade et al. 1998) and radio emission has been detected for all EMSS BL Lacs (see Table 1). Fan et al. (1999) report the discovery of a “radio quiet” quasar at $`z=4.62`$ which lacks emission lines, suggesting the first example of a radio-quiet BL Lac; although the 6cm flux limit does not rule out the possibility that it is simply a relatively radio-weak BL Lac.

(2) Overall Energy Distribution. Given the radio detection for all EMSS XBLs, two-point optical-to-X-ray ($`\alpha _{ox}`$) and radio-to-optical ($`\alpha _{ro}`$) spectral indices, can be defined in the usual way (S91) using 2 keV, 2500Å and 5 GHz rest-frame flux densities (see Table 1). The resulting plot of these two-point spectral indices (Figure 3) can be used to characterize the overall energy distribution of BL Lacs and other AGN classes. As noted by several authors previously (Stocke et al. 1985; Ledden & O’Dell 1985; S91) the XBLs congregate in a specific region of this diagram, a region largely distinct from the other AGN classes (see S91), allowing an additional XBL discriminant. Such a discriminant was tested using the X-ray sources in the Einstein “Slew Survey” (Elvis et al. 1992) and found to be $`>90`$% efficient at identifying BL Lac objects (Perlman et al. 1996b) using the region of Figure 3 defined by the EMSS sample.

The full EMSS sample is now plotted in Figure 3. Unlike previous plots of this type, we have corrected the optical flux values by removing the contribution from the host galaxy’s starlight. This correction uses the optical slit spectroscopy in hand to determine the fraction of V-band light due to the non-thermal source by assuming that the host galaxy has an intrinsic $`B_{4000}=0.50`$ and that the CaII break is depressed by the nonthermal continuum from the AGN. This fraction was applied to the observed V-band magnitude of the object, correcting for the amount of light that did not fall into the slit. We extrapolate from V-band to 2500Å by assuming $`\alpha _o=1`$ (S91). We expect that these optical flux measurements are accurate to better than the level of optical variability seen in these sources ($`1`$ mag; S91). The diagonal line in Figure 3 shows the direction and amount that a point would move given one magnitude of optical variability. Figure 3 illustrates that the EMSS BL Lacs are remarkably homogeneous in their overall spectral energy distributions.

## 5. Notes on Individual Sources

MS 0205.7+3509: The redshift of this unusual XBL remains uncertain although we have obtained high SNR spectra of it on two occasions in addition to the spectrum presented in M91. In M91 a redshift of $`z=0.318`$ was proposed based upon the weak detection of CaII H&K and G-band. These CaII lines are close to the spectrograph join so that this redshift was uncertain and was not confirmed by cross-correlation methods. However, the MMTO spectrum appears to show CaII H&K at the same location and so we record $`z=0.318`$ as a tentative redshift in Table 1. Stocke, Wurtz & Perlman (1995) suggested that this BL Lac might be a gravitationally-lensed object based upon the presence of excess soft X-ray absorption in its PSPC spectrum (P96) and the presence of an offset optical galaxy (Wurtz, Stocke & Yee 1996). Falomo et al. (1997) alternatively suggested that the offset between the BL Lac and its surrounding nebulosity was due to the presence of a companion galaxy; Falomo et al. also claimed a detection of the BL Lac host galaxy. Presently it is not known whether the tentative redshift is due to the host galaxy for this BL Lac or the offset nebulosity.

MS 0331.3–3629: The low-SNR spectrum of this BL Lac in Figure 1 is from the original EMSS identification program data. Despite the modest spectral quality, a blue non-thermal component is clearly present as is a CaII break which slightly exceeds the original limit of S91 for BL Lac objects. However, the classification of this source as a BL Lac seems clear in that ROSAT HRI observations find a point-source at the radio galaxy location and several PSPC observations show that the source has a count rate which varies by a factor of two and a steep X-ray spectral index (see Table 1).

MS 0350.0–3712: The low-SNR spectrum in Figure 1 shows a substantial blue non-thermal component and a small CaII break in accordance with the BL Lac definitions. Serendipitous PSPC and HRI observations verify that this source is pointlike at the radio and optical positions, and that the X-ray source has a steep, possibly variable spectral index and possibly variable count rate.

MS 0419.3+1943: Due to the faintness of this source, the blue side of the M91 spectrum is quite noisy so that the redshift was verified using only the red spectrum in the cross-correlation procedure.

MS 0622.5–5256: Despite having only a very modest SNR spectrum of this object in-hand (Stocke et al. 1985), the BL Lac nature of this source is verified by a serendipitous PSPC observation which confirms that the X-ray, radio and optical sources are coincident and provides a one-time measurement of a steep X-ray spectral index.

MS 0922.9+7459: Due to the faintness of this source, the blue side of the M91 spectrum is quite noisy such that the redshift was verified using only the red spectrum in the cross-correlation procedure.

MS 0950.9+4929: This BL Lac has been observed by us spectroscopically on three separate occasions without detection of any emission or absorption features. Further, the optical (Wurtz, Stocke & Yee 1996) and radio (PS93) images of this source are unresolved, suggesting a high redshift ($`z>0.6`$). But otherwise this object remains one of only a few XBLs whose optical spectrum is entirely featureless.

MS 1133.7+1618: While the cross-correlation procedure resulted in a firm redshift values for this source of $`z=0.574`$, this value places CaII H&K quite close to night sky 6300Å and G-band near the atmospheric B-band. Therefore, this redshift must be viewed as tentative. An unpublished radio map obtained for this source using a snapshot observation in A- configuration at 6 cm reveals a small, slightly bent triple source, typical of a wide-angle-tail at $`z0.5`$.

MS 1205.7-2921: Our spectrum of this object in Figure 1 shows a rather large H&K break, however the spectrum is poor and $`B_{4000}`$ is poorly constrained.

MS 1207.9+3945: A VLA snapshot of this source is presented in Figure 2. Its extended radio power is high (log $`P_{ext}`$ = 25.53 W Hz-1), but not inconsistent with an FR–1.

MS 1219.9+7542: This source has been identified as a cluster in the Bright SHARC survey (Romer et al. 1999); however our analysis of archival ROSAT PSPC and HRI data indicate that the X-ray source is unresolved at the location of the optical and radio counterpart. Further, multiple HRI observations show that the source is variable by a factor of 2. A cluster may be present but the unresolved X-ray source can account for the entire IPC discovery flux.

MS 1221.8+2452: The M91 spectrum of this BL Lac showed H&K quite close to the spectrograph join, so that a new spectrum was obtained at the MMTO, which confirms the redshift obtained by M91 (see Figure 1).

MS 1229.2+6430: While only a modest SNR spectrum is available for this source, H&K, G-band and Mg “b” are all clearly present so that the redshift is firm. A higher resolution spectrum obtained at the MMTO for this object (not shown) confirms H&K at the same redshift.

MS 1256.3+0151: While our modest SNR spectrum of this source obtained at the MMTO confirms its BL Lac nature, no redshift is obvious, nor was one obtained using the cross-correlation procedure with an absorption-line template. However, weak emission lines are potentially present at 4587Å and 6735Å, which, if real, yield a redshift match for C III\] 1909$`\lambda `$ and MgII 2798$`\lambda `$ at $`z=1.40`$. The rest-frame equivalent widths of these low contrast features are 4.2Å and 5.8Å respectively. Better spectroscopy is required to be certain of these identifications; however if these lines are real, MS 1256.3+0151 would be the only object in the EMSS XBL sample to show broad, luminous (log $`L_{line}`$ 42–43 erg s-1) emission lines typical of FR–2s, quasars and some RBLs (RS00). No deep, 20cm VLA observation is available for this source.

MS 1258.4+6401: The low-SNR MMTO spectrum confirms the BL Lac nature of this faint source but yields no redshift information.

MS 1312.1–4221: A low resolution spectrum of this source was obtained at the LCO 100” telescope during the initial source identification process. We show here both this modest SNR spectrum and a later, red spectrum also obtained at the LCO 100”, from which the firm redshift is derived.

MS 1332.6–2935: We show our new MMTO spectrum of this source in Figure 1. The cross-correlation of this spectrum yields a firm redshift of $`z=0.513`$, which corrects the previously published value of $`z=0.256`$, which was based on a low-SNR spectrum obtained at the LCO 100”.

MS 1333.3+1725: This new BL Lac Object was identified using the new ROSAT HRI position from Hattori & Morikawa (private communication) of $`\alpha =13^h35^m46.9^s`$, $`\delta =+17\mathrm{°}09\mathrm{}41.5\mathrm{}`$ (J2000). Analysis of their HRI image in the manner of RSP99 confirms the location of an X-ray point source at the location of a 20th mag. galaxy with $`z=0.465`$, the object at (0,0) in the image of Gioia & Luppino (1994). Our spectrum of this object in Figure 1 shows a rather large H&K break, however the spectrum is poor and $`B_{4000}`$ is poorly constrained. A weak radio source ($`0.9`$ mJy) is detected at the location of the optical counterpart. The image of this field shown in Gioia & Luppino (1994) reveals no obvious cluster of galaxies and so despite the somewhat large H&K break, this source is classified as a BL Lac.

MS 1402.3+0416: In M91 we reported no redshift for this object. Despite a substantial red component seen in the Palomar spectrum, no absorption features were seen. A newer spectrum of this source was obtained at the MMTO when the source was brighter and the red component not so obvious. A cross-correlation analysis of this spectrum yields a good cross-correlation peak at $`z=0.343`$. However, the line identification at this redshift is not obvious in Figure 1. We, therefore, list this redshift as tentative. This modest redshift is consistent with the well-resolved FR–1 type radio structure seen by PS93.

MS 1458.8+2249: The M91 spectrum of this BL Lac showed H&K quite close to the spectrograph join, so that a new spectrum was obtained at the MMTO, which confirms the redshift obtained by M91 (see Figure 1). A possible line is seen at 4230Å in the MMTO spectrum, which matches the position of \[Ne V\] $`\lambda `$3426 at the the redshift of this object. However, this line is not seen in the Palomar spectrum, suggesting that either the line and/or continuum flux varied or that the line is not real.

MS 1552.1+2020: The original EMSS survey identification spectrum is all that is available for this BL Lac (Figure 1) but it clearly shows CaII H&K, so the redshift is firm. A previous redshift of $`z=0.222`$ was erroneously reported for this object in M91.

MS 2306.1–2236: This source is identified with a well-resolved galaxy at low-$`z`$. Despite the substantial H&K break, we identify it as a BL Lac given its steep X-ray spectrum, variable X-ray flux and absence of any obvious cluster on the POSS (see finding chart in Maccacaro et al. 1994).

MS 2316.3–4222: This source is identified as a BL Lac based upon the work presented in Crawford & Fabian (1994).

MS 2336.5+0517: Despite a modest SNR spectrum of this object obtained at the MMTO, we find no firm redshift. A very tentative $`z=0.74`$ is suggested based upon a slight increase in continuum level redward of the atmospheric B-band, which could be the H&K break. This redshift is consistent with the weak extended radio structure seen in Figure 2, but given the significant flux and extent to the 20cm emission, this redshift is probably best treated as an upper limit for the distance to this object.

MS 2342.7–1531: A modest SNR MMTO spectrum is shown in Figure 1, which confirms the BL Lac classification of this source but offers no redshift information.

MS 2347.4+1924: The CFHT spectrum of this faint source shown in Figure 1 yields a firm detection of the H&K break at 6010Å. A deep image of this source obtained by us shows a resolved elliptical galaxy, consistent with $`z=0.515`$. The slightly resolved radio emission (see Figure 3) is also consistent with this redshift.

## 6. The Completeness of the EMSS BL Lac sample

Due to the manner in which the radio observations were made and in which the optical identification program was carried out, it is appropriate to address the completeness for the M91 and D40 sub-samples as well as for the entire EMSS BL Lac sample.

The M91 sample has been scrutinized most carefully over the years due to its importance in determining the luminosity function, cosmological evolution and $`V_e/V_a`$ value for XBLs. All EMSS sources bounded by $`\delta 20`$° and $`f_x5`$ x $`10^{13}`$ ergs cm-2 s-1 have been identified so that the only additions to the M91 sample would come either from the correction of a previously incorrect ID or from a revised X-ray spectral index or Galactic $`N_H`$ value, which raises the flux of the source to greater than the flux limit. This can occur because the conversion from IPC counts s-1 to flux units is dependent upon the assumed spectral index and a large Galactic absorption value can diminish the observed flux substantially. Of the known EMSS BL Lacs, two have been added to the M91 sample by this effect (see Section 2.1), while one other (MS 1704.9+6046) remains just under the flux limit using a ROSAT PSPC spectral index. There are no unidentified sources (or suspected misidentifications) just below the M91 flux limit which could become sample members due to this effect (see below).

While it is somewhat less scrutinized and not completely identified, the D40 sample is virtually complete. All extragalactic and unidentified sources north of $`\delta =40`$° have been observed with the VLA to a $`5\sigma `$ limit of $`1`$ mJy. Assuming $`\alpha _{ro}0.25`$, the observed lower limit within the EMSS, and $`V20`$, this should be sufficient to detect any BL Lac which meets the D40 sample X-ray flux criteria ($`f_x2`$ x $`10^{13}`$ ergs cm-2 s-1). Within this sky area only four X-ray sources which meets the D40 sample X-ray flux criteria remain unidentified or are poorly identified. And only two of these four X-ray sources are detected radio sources. These four sources are listed in Table 5. Also listed in Table 5 are four other unidentified sources which are possible BL Lacs. Those included are: (1) sources which have X-ray flux densities close enough to the D40 flux limit such that a steeper spectral index than the assumed value of $`\alpha _x=1`$ could bring them into the D40 sample; and (2) fainter X-ray sources which have detected radio sources in their error circles.

Of the currently unidentified sources in Table 5, the only sources which are plausibly BL Lac objects are: (1) MS 0134.4+2043, wherein a 22nd mag. red object at the radio position could be the X-ray emitter; (2) MS 1317.0–2111, wherein a non-detection by the ROSAT HRI leaves the identification unknown (see RSP99); and (3) MS 2225.7–2100 where only a poor optical spectrum exists for the X-ray/radio source. In the other case with a radio detection (MS 0501.0–2237), the radio source is too far away from both the IPC and PSPC positions to be considered a plausible ID. However, we caution that our VLA snapshot survey may not have been quite deep enough to detect all the EMSS BL Lac objects in the sample down to the faintest X-ray flux densities.

South of $`\delta =40`$° not all of the EMSS sources have been observed at radio frequencies and so we claim no completeness level for the EMSS sample of BL Lac objects south of $`\delta =40`$°.

Therefore, the current status of the EMSS identification process yields two complete samples to slightly different degrees of confidence: the M91 defined sample of 26 objects, which has been completely identified and thoroughly scrutinized for misidentifications using new ROSAT HRI observations (RSP99); and the larger D40 sample of 41 BL Lacs, which includes the M91 sample as a subset, bounded by the VLA observing area of $`\delta =40`$° and by a flux above which almost all sources are plausibly identified ($`f_x2`$ x $`10^{13}`$ ergs cm-2 s-1; see above). The latter sample has not been scrutinized in detail for misidentified sources. Given the analysis of Marchã & Browne (1995) and the results of RSP99, which found two additional sources in the M91 area, we expect that there may be a few misidentified sources absent from the D40 sample. Since we have already reobserved with the ROSAT HRI several of the most obvious misidentifications in the D40 sample, we expect that the remaining numbers of misidentifications are small and that the D40 sample is largely complete.

## 7. The X-Ray Luminosity Function and Cosmological Evolution of XBLs

Here we present the updated XLF and $`V_e/V_a`$ for the M91 sample, which was first presented in M91, and for the new D40 sample. In addition to the newly added objects we make the following refinement. Whereas M91 assumed an X-ray spectral index $`\alpha _x=1`$ for all EMSS BL Lacs, here we use the $`\alpha _x`$ as determined for each source via ROSAT PSPC observations (see §2) or by the $`\alpha _x\alpha _{ox}`$ correlation in Padovani & Giommi (1996). The tentative redshifts listed in Table 1 are assumed to be correct for the results presented in this Section. For objects without redshifts we assume $`z=0.3`$, the median redshift for both the M91 and D40 samples. This assumption is reasonable as the distribution of redshifts for the EMSS sample is narrow ($`0.1<z<0.7`$), with a sharp peak at $`z0.3`$ (Figure 4). For MS 0205.7+3509, the only EMSS XBL for which the quoted redshift is plausibly a lower limit from an intervening galaxy (Stocke et al. 1995), we assume that the quoted redshift is for the BL Lac, regardless of this uncertainty. As discussed in M91, uncertain redshift information for some of the EMSS XBLs does not significantly affect the $`V_e/V_a`$ test, as it is almost independent of redshift for the low redshift range of the EMSS BL Lac sample ($`z<0.7`$ for all but one XBL). The area surveyed by the EMSS is a function of the flux limit; hence the volume function for the EMSS is complex. For this reason we use the $`V_e/V_a`$ test of Avni & Bahcall (1980). M91 details the application of the $`V_e/V_a`$ test to the EMSS and the same procedure is followed herein.

Table 6 presents the results of the $`V_e/V_a`$ test as it is applied to several X-ray flux-limited subsamples of EMSS BL Lacs. By column: (1) is the sample; (2) is the number of objects in the sample; (3) the $`V_e/V_a`$ and its error; the error is $`\sqrt{1/12N}`$; (4) is the probability that BL Lac subsample is consistent with no evolution, as determined by a K-S test. M91 first reported $`V_e/V_a`$ $`=0.329\pm 0.062`$ for the M91 sample. With the updated redshifts and X-ray flux densities presented in Table 1 and the addition of four new BL Lacs, the $`V_e/V_a`$ of the complete M91 sample is raised to $`V_e/V_a`$ $`=0.399\pm 0.057`$; and $`V_e/V_a`$ $`=0.427\pm 0.045`$ for the new D40 sample. In addition to the M91 and D40 samples we determined the $`V_e/V_a`$ value for two other high-flux EMSS subsamples.

It is not clear what, if any, trends exist in Table 6. The $`V_e/V_a`$ for the smaller samples are consistent with no evolution, but as the sample size increases this is less so. Della Ceca (1993) first noted this result, suggesting that the EMSS sample was incomplete at lower flux levels. However in RSP99 and this paper we have shown that the EMSS samples, and in particular the M91 sample, are now virtually complete. Further, the negative evolution result persists in the larger D40 sample. Even though the D40 sample has a larger $`V_e/V_a`$, it is less consistent (only a 4% probability) with a no evolution result than the M91 sample. As all the EMSS sources bounded by M91 sample X-ray flux and declination criteria have been identified, the only possible additions to the M91 sample would come either from the correction of a previously incorrect identification or from a revised X-ray spectral index or Galactic $`N_H`$ value. As discussed in §4, we believe no BL Lac objects are excluded due to the modified EMSS BL Lac selection criteria; and only one or two objects could possibly be moved into the M91 sample for the latter two reasons. While the $`V_e/V_a`$ values for the M91 and D40 samples are indicative of negative evolution, both results are consistent with a no evolution scenario for XBLs at the $`2\sigma `$ level.

Table 7 presents the results of the $`V_e/V_a`$ test as it is applied to subsamples of the D40 divided by their $`f_x/f_r`$ ratios. The column identifications are the same as Table 6. We find that only the more extreme HBLs (log($`f_x/f_r`$) $`4.5`$) clearly show negative evolution, whereas the less extreme HBLs and the intermediate BL Lacs are compatible with a no evolution result. BL Lac samples drawn from the ROSAT All-Sky Survey also show this characteristic (Bade et al. 1998; Giommi, Menna & Padovani 1999).

The negative evolution of EMSS XBLs is modeled as both density evolution of the form $`\rho (z)=\rho (0)(1+z)^\beta `$ and luminosity evolution of the form $`L_x(z)=L_x(0)(1+z)^\gamma `$. Figure 5 shows the variation of $`V_e/V_a`$ with the evolution parameters $`\beta `$ and $`\gamma `$. Three cases are shown in this Figure: (1) open circles: original M91 result; (2) closed circles: revised M91 sample using revised X-ray spectral index data from ROSAT; (3) closed triangles: D40 sample with ROSAT spectral indices. The new $`V_e/V_a`$ best-fit values for the M91 sample (i.e., the values for which the evolved $`V_e/V_a`$ = 0.5) are $`\beta =3.5`$ with $`\pm 2\sigma `$ limits of -7.0 to +0.5 and $`\gamma =4.0`$ with $`\pm 2\sigma `$ limits of -12.0 to -0.25. Because of the slight increase in the unevolved $`V_e/V_a`$ the measured evolution is not as strongly negative as first reported in M91; $`\beta `$ has increased from -5.5 to -3.5 and $`\gamma `$ has increased from -7.0 to -4.0. These values are slightly higher for the D40 sample, $`\beta =2.8`$ and $`\gamma =3.0`$. Figure 6 shows the integral X-ray luminosity functions evolved to $`z=0`$ for the same three cases as in Figure 5. Both the derived, best-fit luminosity- and density-evolved XLFs are shown for the original M91 sample (open circles), the updated M91 sample (closed circles) and the new D40 sample (closed triangles). Figure 7 shows the differential form of the XLF; each bin is $`10^{44}`$ erg s-1 in size. As can be seen in both Figures 6 and 7 the XLF is not significantly changed from our first determinations using the M91 sample. The new objects in the M91 and D40 samples extend the XLF down to somewhat lower luminosities (log $`L_x43.5`$ erg s-1); and, as was first reported in RSP99, we see no evidence of flattening of the XLF at log $`L_x<45.0`$ erg s-1.

## 8. Impact on Unified Schemes

Here we discuss the relationship between EMSS XBLs and FR–1 radio galaxies. The relationship between XBLs in the EMSS sample to RBLs in the 1Jy survey will be discussed in RS00.

### 8.1. Extended Radio Luminosities & Core Dominance Values

If low-luminosity, FR–1 radio galaxies are the parent population of BL Lacs, the distribution of their emission line luminosities and extended radio power levels should be comparable. In addition to those presented in PS93, the new VLA maps presented here complete deep 20cm mapping of all the BL Lacs in the M91 sample. All of the EMSS XBLs have measured or upper limits to their extended radio powers which are consistent with FR–1s, as defined by Owen & Laing (1989). Three objects have extended radio powers which are somewhat high for FR–1s (log $`L_{ext}>25`$ W Hz-1), one of which is based upon a very tentative redshift ($`z=0.74`$; MS 2336.5+0517).

Due to the number of unresolved objects the distribution of extended radio luminosities for XBLs is not well defined, making a detailed comparison between FR–1s and XBLs difficult; e.g., the extended luminosity limit for MS 1019.0+5139, while consistent with being an FR–1, is nonetheless very low. The extended flux limits placed upon MS 1019.0+5139 and MS 1235.4+6315 by our VLA observations are considerably lower than other EMSS BL Lacs observed (PS93 and here) because they were observed with the B-array, which has a larger beamsize that is better suited for detecting faint, extended radio flux at the redshifts of most EMSS BL Lacs ($`z<0.5`$). Thus, deeper 20cm B- and C-array observations should be obtained of these sources to determine whether or not the distribution of extended radio flux densities for XBLs matches FR–1s precisely or not.

In the orientation hypothesis, XBLs are believed to be FR–1s viewed at intermediate angles to the line of sight (Urry & Padovani 1995). If so, the core-to-extended flux ratios ($`f`$ values) should indicate the degree of Doppler boosting of the core and hence the range of orientation angles for XBLs. To test this hypothesis, the $`f`$ values for XBLs in the M91 sample are compared to FR–1s from the B2 sample (Ulrich 1989; as presented in PS93) and RBLs from the 1Jy sample (Stickel et al. 1991; RS00) in Figure 8. Padovani & Giommi (1995) argued against the unified model on the basis that the radio structures of XBLs shown in PS93 are more core-dominated than expected. Based upon derived beaming parameters for BL Lacs (e.g., Urry et al. 1991, Celotti et al. 1993), they argue that most XBLs should be lobe-dominated radio sources ($`f<1`$). This situation is analogous to steep-spectrum radio quasars, lobe-dominated sources which are believed to be seen at angles intermediate to flat-spectrum radio quasars and FR–2s. However, the Padovani & Giommi (1995) conclusion is based upon the brighter radio EMSS XBLs observed by PS93, possibly introducing a bias towards more core-dominated sources via Doppler boosting. So, it was necessary to complete the radio mapping of the M91 sample in order to remove any possible bias that the PS93 radio flux-limited sample may have created. However, as shown in Section 3.2, the $`f`$ values for the newly mapped sources are quite high as well; and most of these $`f`$ values are lower limits because all but three of the newly mapped XBLs were unresolved by these new observations. With these new observations the $`f`$ for EMSS XBLs has actually increased such that $`f`$ $`4.2`$ for the M91 sample. No XBLs with $`f0.02`$ are seen, which are predicted by the unified model. Thus these observations do not ameliorate the excessive core-dominance values of XBLs.

However, an orientation scheme is still possible if XBL jet Lorentz factors are moderately higher ($`\gamma >5`$) and the jet is confined laterally. In the Padovani & Giommi (1995) model the jet outflow is assumed to be well collimated such that the observed Doppler boosting is dependent only upon the beam pattern, which, for low $`\gamma `$ is quite broad (i.e., the Doppler factor $`\delta >1`$ for $`\theta <`$ cos$`{}_{}{}^{1}\sqrt{(\gamma 1)/(\gamma +1)}`$; which, for $`\gamma =5`$, gives $`\delta >1`$ for $`\theta <35`$°). If $`\gamma >5`$ and the X-ray and radio-emitting jet is laterally confined, the observed beam pattern would primarily depend on the physical opening angle of the jet, $`\theta _{jet}`$, with an abrupt “edge.” In this case, because the beam pattern of the jet falls off dramatically for viewing angles $`\theta >\theta _{jet}`$, XBLs could still have large radio core-dominance values and there would be an absence of $`f`$ values intermediate between that of XBLs and FR–1s (i.e., a lack of objects with $`f0.02`$). This model can also explain the observed absence of a large population of low-luminosity BL Lacs (RSP99; Owen, Ledlow & Keel 1996).

We note that the problem of unification via the orientation hypothesis is exacerbated if X-ray emitting regions have greater Lorentz factors than the radio emitting regions ($`\gamma _x>\gamma _r`$; e.g., Georganopoulos & Marscher 1998). If we assume EMSS XBLs are seen at orientation angles $`\theta 1/\gamma _x`$, the radio emission will be less Doppler boosted than if $`\gamma _x=\gamma _r`$, resulting in the expected distribution of core dominance values to be pushed towards even more lobe-dominated sources.

### 8.2. Other Impacts on Unified Schemes

#### 8.2.1 Emission Line Properties

In the orientation hypothesis, BL Lacs should have emission line luminosities similar to their parent population. Obscuration is not believed to be important as BL Lac sightlines are believed to be at small angles to the jet axis (e.g., Chiaberge et al. 1999; Fabbiano et al. 1984; Worrall & Birkinshaw 1994). Only a few EMSS XBLs have any observed emission lines, all of which are quite weak (log $`L_{em}40`$ erg s-1). Despite the moderate to poor quality of some spectra, upper limits of log $`L_{em}=`$ 40-41 erg s-1 are set for most emission lines. The lack of observed emission lines in XBLs is completely consistent with FR–1s being the parent population for XBLs; none conclusively show the luminous emission lines typically seen in FR–2s (e.g., Zirbel & Baum 1995).

#### 8.2.2 Absorption Line Properties

Stocke & Rector (1997) discovered an excess of MgII absorption systems along the sightlines of 1Jy BL Lacs, suggesting that some BL Lacs may be gravitationally lensed. The optical spectra of many XBLs show the presence of weak stellar absorption lines and a depressed CaII break, consistent with nonthermal emission from an AGN diluted by a luminous host elliptical galaxy. Since most EMSS XBLs lack emission-line redshifts it is possible that some of the derived redshifts are for an intervening galaxy rather than for the BL Lac itself. However, MS 0205.7+3509 is the only EMSS XBL that shows evidence that the observed galaxy may be intervening rather than the host (Stocke, Wurtz & Perlman 1995). The number of MgII absorption systems along XBL sightlines is not known due to the low source redshift of XBLs, which places any possible MgII absorption lines in the near-UV.

#### 8.2.3 Spectral Energy Distributions

Figure 9 shows the distribution of $`f_x/f_r`$ values for the M91 and D40 samples. The flux densities are $`K`$-corrected and the X-ray flux values are converted to 1 keV, assuming the X-ray spectral index determined for each object in §3.3.1. Not surprisingly, nearly all the EMSS XBLs are HBLs; only a few have log($`f_x/f_r`$) $`<5.5`$.

Fossati et al. (1998) find a trend among blazars wherein the peak frequency $`\nu _{peak}`$ of their broadband SEDs occurs at lower frequencies for the most luminous sources. To explain this result, Ghisellini et al. (1998) have presented a unification model in which the energy density of the radiating electrons within the jet and their Lorentz factors are correlated, such that HBLs should have intrinsically lower powers than LBLs. Thus, their model predicts a correlation between $`\nu _{peak}`$ and bolometric luminosity $`L_{bol}`$.

A K–S test indicates a 95% probability that the $`f_x/f_r`$ distributions of the M91 and D40 samples are drawn from the same parent population, even though the distribution of X-ray and radio luminosities are significantly lower in the D40 sample. If $`\nu _{peak}`$ scales with $`f_x/f_r`$ and the Ghisellini et al. model is correct, we would expect the $`f_x/f_r`$ distribution for the D40 sample to contain a higher fraction of extreme HBLs than the M91 sample because the D40 sample contains XBLs of lower luminosity. Giommi et al. (1999) also note an apparent lack of correlation between luminosity and SEDs in a large sample of HBLs. However, Perlman et al. (1999) find that the correlation between $`\nu _{peak}`$ and $`L_{bol}`$ is much wider than determined by Fossati et al. (1998); and, given that $`\nu _{peak}`$ is poorly determined by $`f_x/f_r`$ and that the X-ray flux limit of the D40 sample is only 2.5 times fainter than the M91 sample, we cannot conclude that such a correlation does not exist among EMSS XBLs.

#### 8.2.4 Cosmological Evolution

As is discussed in §7, the new D40 and updated M91 samples have significantly larger $`V_e/V_a`$ values than previously reported for EMSS XBL samples. While still only $`2\sigma `$ below a no-evolution result, negative evolution remains the best fit, especially for the more extreme HBLs. The measured $`V_e/V_a`$ values for the EMSS are consistent with studies of other complete XBL and HBL samples. It is also consistent with the observed $`V_e/V_a`$ for FR–1s from the 2Jy sample ($`V_e/V_a`$ $`=0.42\pm 0.05`$; Urry & Padovani 1995), supporting the notion that XBLs and FR–1s share the same parent population.

## 9. Summary & Conclusions

We have presented updated and complete radio, optical and X-ray data for BL Lacs in the EMSS. Optical spectroscopy is now complete for all known cases of BL Lacs in the EMSS; and modest dynamic range, arcsecond-resolution VLA maps are now available for the complete M91 sample. We have also defined a new, virtually complete sample of 41 XBLs in the EMSS with $`f_x2`$ x $`10^{13}`$ ergs cm-2 s-1 and $`\delta 40`$°. Redshift information is now available for all but four of the 44 BL Lacs in the sample; five other objects have tentative redshifts, two of which are highly uncertain.

Updated redshifts and X-ray flux densities, as well as the addition of four objects, has increased the $`V_e/V_a`$ value for the M91 sample to $`0.399\pm 0.057`$; and $`V_e/V_a`$ $`=0.427\pm 0.045`$ for the newly defined D40 sample. Thus, all current data continue to support negative evolution for XBLs, especially the more extreme HBLs. XBL evolution is comparable to FR–1s ($`V_e/V_a`$$`=0.42\pm 0.05`$ for FR–1s in the 2Jy sample; Urry & Padovani 1995). The observed spectral and radio properties of XBLs are also completely consistent with an FR–1 parent population. But the radio core-dominance values for the M91 sample are likely too high for XBLs to be seen at intermediate angles as suggested by the simplest unified model, which needs to be modified significantly to still be viable. Our results may also contradict the unification model of Ghisellini et al. (1998), which predict an anticorrelation between peak frequency and bolometric luminosity.

Deep 20cm VLA observations of the D40 sample should be obtained to complete the observations for this new, nearly complete XBL sample. Based upon the number of unresolved sources seen in the M91 sample, B- and C-array observations are more likely to detect extended radio flux. Similar observations should be obtained for all M91 XBLs which were not resolved by the A- and B-arrays. It is important to detect extended radio flux for these sources so that the distribution of extended radio luminosities for XBLs can be accurately compared to FR–1s.

Research on BL Lac objects at the University of Colorado was supported by NASA grant NAGW-2675. This research has made use of data obtained through the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center Online Service, provided by the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center as well as NASA’s Astrophysics Data System (ADS) Abstract Service.


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# Extended Extragalactic Radio Emission

## 1. Introduction

Extended emission from radio galaxies is much too big a subject to cover in a short talk or meeting proceedings. In this contribution I will attempt to summarize some recent developments on the properties of radio galaxies as a function of their environment and their impact on that environment.

## 2. Evolution of Extended Radio Emission

One important goal of the study of extragalactic radio sources is to understand the life history of this phenomenon as a function of time in the same way as we currently understand stellar evolution. It seems likely that the evolutionary tracks of these sources depend on several variables, including local environment and parent galaxy properties. We can now begin to study these variables by looking at fairly large samples of radio galaxies and studying the dependence of the radio properties on the optical and X-ray data we can assemble for them.

Given that most radio sources with luminosities with $`L_{20cm}>10^{23}`$ W Hz-1 ($`H_0=75`$ km s-1 Mpc-1) are believed to be formed by interactions between the jets and the external medium, one would think that there would be differences in radio properties in and out of cataloged rich clusters. However, studies of the statistical properties of these two classes of sources has revealed little difference (Fanti 1984; Ledlow & Owen 1996).

The lack of correlation of radio galaxy properties with rich clusters is confusing. We can really only make this statement about FR I’s right now since the samples studied have been dominated by this class. While it appears that clusters and their environments are not important, another explanation is that the clusters are actually there but we are missing them. Abell’s sample of clusters, still the dominant source list for these systems, is not based on a physical cutoff in properties between “clusters” and the field but on the contrast between these concentrations and the random galaxies along the line-of-sight considered. The probability of a galaxy being a radio source does not depend on richness (Ledlow & Owen 1995). We find numerous radio galaxies down into Abell’s richness class 0. Thus it might be reasonable to expect the cluster population to continue down into lower richness systems.

Recent X-ray and optical studies support this picture. Miller el al (1999) and Hardcastle & Worrall (1999) find evidence for both significant optical clustering for the Palomar DSS and diffuse X-ray atmospheres surrounding most of the nearby FR I’s studied with the short RASS exposures. Worrall (2000) also finds a similar result using deeper, pointed ROSAT imaging. These results are consistent with almost all FR I’s being found in some sort of clustering with an external hot atmosphere to confine the sources. However, lower richness and size make the clusters harder to detect.

On the other hand, the shape of the radio luminosity function seems to depend on galaxy absolute magnitude. The FR I/II radio morphology also seems to depend on absolute magnitude in roughly the same way. That is, for each absolute magnitude, the radio morphology type changes at about the same radio luminosity as the break occurs in the radio luminosity function. This break is a strong function of optical absolute magnitude. In figure 1 we show this relation for a recently completed sample of radio galaxies taken from the Wall & Peacock (1985) 2 Jy sample, the Abell cluster sample and the Bologna radio galaxy sample. The line shows the location of the break in properties as a function of absolute radio and optical luminosity. Please refer to Ledlow et al (2000a,b) for details.

The correlation with optical galaxy properties may partly be a result of the correlation of optical galaxy luminosity (and thus presumably mass) with degree of clustering. More massive galaxies tend to live in deeper, bigger potential wells and the properties of the associated radio sources may depend primarily on this correlation. Investigators need to be careful that correlations of properties of radio galaxies with redshift, including the degree of clustering, are not a result of selecting objects from different parts of figure 1 as a function of redshift.

Our understanding of radio size as a function of radio power also gives us a hint about radio source evolution. (de Ruiter et al 1990, Ledlow et al 2000a,b). There appears to be slow rise in the maximum linear sizes as a function of radio power. However, for FR I’s one worries that the picture may not be complete. In figure 2, we show a new VLA image of B2 1108+27. Previous observations of this source ($`z=0.0331`$) suggested a small FR I, $`1`$ arcmin in size (Fanti et al 1987). However, the NVSS image of this source suggested to us that there might be a larger extension, although the ability to see this was at or below the believable detection limit of the NVSS. The image with two hours integration with the VLA D-array reveals the 30 arcmin scale, 1 Mpc structure of this source.

The radio size versus optical and radio properties may be more complicated and incomplete than the other relations. The large sizes for many FR II’s, and now FR I’s, suggest very much larger diffuse gaseous atmospheres than are usually detected by existing X-ray observations. The present size diagrams, limited by surface brightness sensitivity, may be part of the picture and may indicate that characteristic scales for the surrounding medium. But figure 2 may suggest that this is not the complete picture and that we have much more to learn about the evolution of individual radio galaxies and their lifetimes.

## 3. Radio Galaxy Effects on the External Medium: M87

Many non-radio astronomers have often calculated the absolute radio luminosity for a galaxy and then discounted its importance given the usually much larger radiated luminosity in other bands. However, most theoretical models of radio jets suggest we are only seeing a small portion of the energy being pumped out of the galaxy nucleus into the surrounding medium. This energy input into the intracluster medium must be important to the total energy budget of these systems. An example of this can be seen in the recent VLA images of M87 at 90cm.

In figure 3, we show the new 90cm VLA image (Owen, Eilek & Kassim 2000) of the full M87 system at 6 arcsec resolution and 50,000:1 dynamic range. Note the large scale, $`15`$ arcmin. Most radio images to date have concentrated on the inner, much higher surface brightness part of the source which contains the 20 arcsec long optical jet. The relationship of the inner structure to the large-scale image shown here can be studied on the web site (http://www.aoc.nrao.edu/$``$fowen/M87.html). The new observations suggest that the flow seen in the inner part of the source extends to much larger scales. The jet seems to be depositing its energy on this scale and blowing up two bubbles in the process. The radio emission appears to be distributed very non-uniformly in a complex system of filaments some tens of kpc in length. The bubbles appear to have a clear outer boundary which has the same maximum size over a broad range of wavelengths from 4m to 20cm.

The inner jet is modeled from a number of different points of view as having a total kinetic energy flux of $`10^{44}`$ ergs s-1 or more. However, the region occupied by the radio source has an X-ray luminosity of only $`10^{43}`$ ergs s-1. This implies that more energy is flowing into the region from the jet than out due to bremsstrahlung radiation. This is consistent with net heating of the volume and a subsonic expansion of the bubbles.

This region has traditionally been modeled as a “cooling flow” using only the energy budget calculated from the X-ray emission. This result suggests that the situation is currently much more complicated for M87 at the center of the Virgo cluster. Of course, the radio event may be transient on the time-scale of the cluster, so whether the cooling inflow or the jet (black hole) driven outflow dominates may vary with time. The great variety of central radio sources in clusters we see supports this qualitative picture. But as with the radio jet sources, we need to study the problem statistically to understand the evolutionary tracks of this phenomenon.

## 4. High-z Starformation and AGN’s

Recently extragalactic, high-redshift dust emission has been discovered using the SCUBA array on the JCMT. The positional accuracy obtained for these weak sources with the relatively large JCMT beam is limited. However, it turns out that many of the weak submm sources are detected in deep 20cm surveys with the VLA as well. The higher accuracy VLA positions can be used to identify the optical/IR counterparts to these sources and when they are bright enough allow optical spectroscopy to determine their redshift and other properties.

Although these sources have clear dust spectral signatures in most cases, many of the identifications have turned out to have AGN optical spectra. Also studies of nearby ultra-luminous FIR galaxies have shown that often there is strong evidence for an AGN as well as active star formation. This raises the important question of whether the two processes (very high star-formation rates and active galactic nuclei) are related in their origin, especially at high redshift.

One of the first such objects discovered is JM$`23990136`$ (Ivison et al 1998). This object has a fairly bright radio counterpart which allowed its confirmation. Optically, it consists of two components separated by about 3 arcsec, both with $`z=2.8`$. One of the objects has an AGN spectrum while the other lacks the high excitation lines and thus is more consistent with star-formation. The B-array radio imaging shows a radio source with an extent of 10 arcsec or more, consistent with an FR I morphology. Recently we imaged this field with the VLA at 20 and 90cm in the A-array, producing images with 1.5 and 6 arcsec resolution respectively. An earlier image at 1.5 arcsec resolution had been obtained at 5 GHz. In the 20cm image we see two components which align with the two optical objects. However, the one with the AGN spectrum appears to have a much flatter spectrum typical of a normal, optically thin synchrotron source. The lower excitation object appears to have a steeper spectrum and is not detected at 5 GHz. The whole source, based on the 90cm results, appears to have a spectrum steeper than one.

At $`z=2.8`$, the spectrum of a synchrotron source in a weak magnetic field should be steepened by Inverse Compton losses. This might well steepen the spectrum of the low surface brightness parts of an FR I or the synchrotron emission from the ISM of a galaxy. However, an AGN, perhaps with a jet, could resupply the relativistic electron population rapidly enough to maintain a normal spectrum. Thus this observation could suggest that both processes are active in this object and that many starforming sources at high redshift may have steep radio spectra. The extended, FR I-like radio emission may mean that there is connection at high redshift between radio jet sources and star-formation which we do not often see nearby.

## 5. Conclusions

There are many exciting and important areas which the new low frequency capabilities such as the GMRT can address and make major progress. These are allowing us to ask questions about radio sources like those we have posed for years about stellar evolution. Also, when combined with other wavelength bands, we can begin see the connection and importance of the phenonema we study to the rest of extragalactic astronomy and our very broad understanding of the universe.

N.K. acknowledges basic research in radio astronomy at the Naval Research Laboratory is supported by the Office of Naval Research.

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