First results from the Isaac Newton Telescope Wide Angle Survey: the  quasar survey |
| |
| Authors: | RG Sharp RG McMahon MJ Irwin ST Hodgkin |
| |
| Institution: | Institute of Astronomy, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA |
| |
| Abstract: | We report the first results of an observational programme designed to determine the luminosity density of high-redshift quasars  quasars) using deep multicolour CCD data. We report the discovery and spectra of three  high-redshift  quasars, including one with  . At  , this is the fourth highest redshift quasar currently published. Using these preliminary results we derive an estimate of the   quasar space density in the redshift range  of  . When completed, the survey will provide a firm constraint on the contribution to the ionizing UV background in the redshift range  from quasars by determining the faint-end slope of the quasar luminosity function. The survey uses imaging data taken with the 2.5-m Isaac Newton Telescope as part of the Public Isaac Newton Group Wide Field Survey (WFS). This initial sample of objects is taken from two fields of effective area ～12.5 deg2 from the final ～100 deg2. |
| |
| Keywords: | galaxies: active quasars: general |
|
