The number counts, luminosity functions and evolution of microwave-selected (WMAP) blazars and radio galaxies

Understand

(Abridged) We carried out an extensive search to identify the counterparts of all the sources listed in the WMAP 3-yr catalogue using literature and archival data.

• Our work led to the identification of 309 WMAP sources, 98% of which are blazars, radio quasars or radio galaxies.
• At present, 15 objects still remain without identification due to the lack of optical spectroscopic data or a clear radio counterpart.
• Our results allow us to define a flux limited sample of 203 high Galactic latitude microwave sources ($f_{41GHz} \ge 1$ Jy, $|b_{\rm II}| > 15^\circ$) which is virtually completely identified (99%).