We present the results of a comparison between the environments of 1) a complete sample of 46 southern 2Jy radio galaxies at intermediate redshifts (0.05 < z < 0.7), 2) a complete sample of 20 radio-quiet type-2 quasars (0.3 z 0.41), and 3) a control sample of 107 quiescent early-type galaxies at 0.2 z < 0.7 in the Extended Groth Strip (EGS). The environments have been quantified using angular clustering amplitudes (B gq ) derived from deep optical imaging data. Based on these comparisons, we discuss the role of the environment in the triggering of powerful radio-loud and radio-quiet quasars. When we compare the B gq distributions of the type-2 quasars and quiescent early-type galaxies, we find no significant difference between them. This is consistent with the radio-quiet quasar phase being a short-lived but ubiquitous stage in the formation of all massive early-type galaxies. On the other hand, PRGs are in denser environments than the quiescent population, and this difference between distributions of B gq is significant at the 3σ level. This result supports a physical origin of radio loudness, with high density gas environments favouring the transformation of AGN power into radio luminosity, or alternatively, affecting the properties of the supermassive black holes themselves. Finally, focussing on the radio-loud sources only, we find that the clustering of weak-line radio galaxies (WLRGs) is higher than the strong-line radio galaxies (SLRGs), constituting a 3σ result. 82% of the 2Jy WLRGs are in clusters, according to our definition (B gq 400) versus only 31% of the SLRGs.

Context. The origin of broad-absorption-line quasi-stellar objects (BAL QSOs) remains unclear. Accounting for ∼20% of the QSO population, these objects have broad absorption lines in their optical spectra generated from outflows with velocities of up to 0.2 c. In this work, we present the results of a multi-frequency study of a well-defined radio-loud BAL QSO sample, and a comparison sample of radio-loud non-BAL QSOs, both selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Aims. We aim to test which of the currently popular models of the BAL phenomenon -"orientation" or "evolutionary" -best accounts for the radio properties of BAL quasars. We also consider a third model in which BALs are produced by polar jets driven by radiation pressure. Methods. Observations from 1.4 to 43 GHz have been obtained with the VLA and Effelsberg telescopes, and data from 74 to 408 MHz have been compiled from the literature. The spectral indices give clues about the orientation, while the determination of the peak frequency can constrain the age, and test the evolutionary scenario, in which BAL QSOs are young QSOs. The fractional polarisation and the rotation measure in part reflect the local magnetic field strength and particle density. Results. The fractions of resolved sources in the BAL and non-BAL QSO samples are similar (16% versus (vs.) 12%). The resolved sources in the two samples have similar linear sizes (20 to 400 kpc) and morphologies. There is weak evidence that the fraction of variable sources amongst BAL QSOs is smaller. The fractions of candidate GHz-peaked sources are similar in the two samples (36 ± 12% vs. 23 ± 8%), suggesting that BAL QSOs are not generally younger than non-BAL QSOs. Both BAL and non-BAL QSOs have a wide range of spectral indices, including flat-spectrum and steep-spectrum sources, consistent with a broad range of orientations. There is weak evidence (91% confidence) that the spectral indices of the BAL QSOs are steeper than those of non-BAL QSOs, mildly favouring edge-on orientations. At a higher level of significance (≥97%), the spectra of BAL QSOs are no flatter than those of non-BAL QSOs, which suggests that a polar orientation is not preferred. The distributions of fractional polarisation in the two samples have similar median values (1-3%). The distributions of rotation measure are also similar, the only outlier being the BAL QSO 1624+37, which has an extreme rest-frame rotation measure (from the literature) of −18 350 ± 570 rad m −2 .

We present multifrequency observations of a sample of 15 radio‐emitting broad absorption‐line quasars (BAL QSOs), covering a spectral range between 74 MHz and 43 GHz. They mostly display convex radio spectra which typically peak at about 1–5 GHz (in the observer's rest frame), flatten at MHz frequencies, probably due to synchrotron self‐absorption, and become steeper at high frequencies, i.e. ν≳ 20 GHz. Very Large Array (VLA) 22‐GHz maps (HPBW ∼80 mas) show unresolved or very compact sources, with linear projected sizes of ≤1 kpc. About two‐thirds of the sample looks unpolarized or weakly polarized at 8.4 GHz, frequency in which reasonable upper limits could be obtained for polarized intensity. Statistical comparisons have been made between the spectral index distributions of samples of BAL and non‐BAL QSOs, both in the observed and in the rest frame, finding steeper spectra among non‐BAL QSOs. However, constraining this comparison to compact sources results in no significant differences between both distributions. This comparison is consistent with BAL QSOs not being oriented along a particular line of sight. In addition, our analysis of the spectral shape, variability and polarization properties shows that radio BAL QSOs share several properties common to young radio sources like compact steep spectrum or gigahertz peaked spectrum sources.