DES J0454-4448: Discovery of the first luminous z = 6 quasar from the Dark Energy Survey

S. L. Reed; R. G. McMahon; M. Banerji; G. D. Becker; E. Gonzalez-Solares; P. Martini; F. Ostrovski; M. Rauch; T. Abbott; F. B. Abdalla; S. Allam; A. Benoit-Levy; E. Bertin; E. Buckley-Geer; D. Burke; A. Carnero Rosell; L. N. da Costa; C. D'Andrea; D. L. DePoy; S. Desai; H. T. Diehl; P. Doel; C. E. Cunha; J. Estrada; A. E. Evrard; A. Fausti Neto; D. A. Finley; P. Fosalba; J. Frieman; D. Gruen; K. Honscheid; D. James; S. Kent; K. Kuehn; N. Kuropatkin; O. Lahav; M. A.G. Maia; M. Makler; J. Marshall; K. Merritt; R. Miquel; J. Mohr; B. Nord; R. Ogando; A. Plazas; K. Romer; A. Roodman; E. Rykoff; M. Sako; E. Sanchez; B. Santiago; M. Schubnell; I. Sevilla; C. Smith; M. Soares-Santos; E. Suchyta; M. E.C. Swanson; G. Tarle; D. Thomas; D. Tucker; A. Walker; R. H. Wechsler

doi:10.1093/mnras/stv2031

DES J0454-4448: Discovery of the first luminous z = 6 quasar from the Dark Energy Survey

S. L. Reed, R. G. McMahon, M. Banerji, G. D. Becker, E. Gonzalez-Solares, P. Martini, F. Ostrovski, M. Rauch, T. Abbott, F. B. Abdalla, S. Allam, A. Benoit-Levy, E. Bertin, E. Buckley-Geer, D. Burke, A. Carnero Rosell, L. N. da Costa, C. D'Andrea, D. L. DePoy, S. DesaiH. T. Diehl, P. Doel, C. E. Cunha, J. Estrada, A. E. Evrard, A. Fausti Neto, D. A. Finley, P. Fosalba, J. Frieman, D. Gruen, K. Honscheid, D. James, S. Kent, K. Kuehn, N. Kuropatkin, O. Lahav, M. A.G. Maia, M. Makler, J. Marshall, K. Merritt, R. Miquel, J. Mohr, B. Nord, R. Ogando, A. Plazas, K. Romer, A. Roodman, E. Rykoff, M. Sako, E. Sanchez, B. Santiago, M. Schubnell, I. Sevilla, C. Smith, M. Soares-Santos, E. Suchyta, M. E.C. Swanson, G. Tarle, D. Thomas, D. Tucker, A. Walker, R. H. Wechsler

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Abstract

We present the first results of a survey for high-redshift, z ≥ 6, quasars using izY multicolour photometric observations from the Dark Energy Survey (DES). Here we report the discovery and spectroscopic confirmation of the z_AB, Y_AB = 20.2, 20.2 (M₁₄₅₀ = -26.5) quasar DES J0454-4448 with a redshift of z = 6.09±0.02 based on the onset of the Ly α forest and an H I near zone size of 4.1_-1.2^+1.1 proper Mpc. The quasar was selected as an i-band drop out with i-z = 2.46 and z_AB < 21.5 from an area of ~300 deg². It is the brightest of our 43 candidates and was identified for spectroscopic follow-up solely based on the DES i-z and z-Y colours. The quasar is detected by WISE and has W1_AB = 19.68. The discovery of one spectroscopically confirmed quasar with 5.7 < z < 6.5 and z_AB = 20.2 is consistent with recent determinations of the luminosity function at z ~ 6. DES when completed will have imaged ~5000 deg² to Y^AB = 23.0 (5σ point source) and we expect to discover 50-100 new quasars with z > 6 including 3-10 with z > 7 dramatically increasing the numbers of quasars currently known that are suitable for detailed studies.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	3952-3961
Number of pages	10
Journal	Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume	454
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stv2031
State	Published - Dec 21 2015
Externally published	Yes

Funding

Funders	Funder number
National Science Foundation	1125897
Science and Technology Facilities Council	ST/K000985/1, ST/K00090X/1, ST/M007626/1, ST/M001334/1, ST/M007030/1, ST/J00541X/1, ST/N002571/1

Keywords

Dark ages, reionization, first stars
Galaxies: active
Galaxies: formation
Galaxies: high-redshift
Quasars: individual: DES J0454-4448

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10.1093/mnras/stv2031

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Reed, S. L., McMahon, R. G., Banerji, M., Becker, G. D., Gonzalez-Solares, E., Martini, P., Ostrovski, F., Rauch, M., Abbott, T., Abdalla, F. B., Allam, S., Benoit-Levy, A., Bertin, E., Buckley-Geer, E., Burke, D., Carnero Rosell, A., da Costa, L. N., D'Andrea, C., DePoy, D. L., ... Wechsler, R. H. (2015). DES J0454-4448: Discovery of the first luminous z = 6 quasar from the Dark Energy Survey. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 454(4), 3952-3961. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stv2031

@article{60daa18a46be4d07b0d095ec6cac9ccd,

title = "DES J0454-4448: Discovery of the first luminous z = 6 quasar from the Dark Energy Survey",

abstract = "We present the first results of a survey for high-redshift, z ≥ 6, quasars using izY multicolour photometric observations from the Dark Energy Survey (DES). Here we report the discovery and spectroscopic confirmation of the zAB, YAB = 20.2, 20.2 (M1450 = -26.5) quasar DES J0454-4448 with a redshift of z = 6.09±0.02 based on the onset of the Ly α forest and an H I near zone size of 4.1-1.2+1.1 proper Mpc. The quasar was selected as an i-band drop out with i-z = 2.46 and zAB < 21.5 from an area of ~300 deg2. It is the brightest of our 43 candidates and was identified for spectroscopic follow-up solely based on the DES i-z and z-Y colours. The quasar is detected by WISE and has W1AB = 19.68. The discovery of one spectroscopically confirmed quasar with 5.7 < z < 6.5 and zAB = 20.2 is consistent with recent determinations of the luminosity function at z ~ 6. DES when completed will have imaged ~5000 deg2 to YAB = 23.0 (5σ point source) and we expect to discover 50-100 new quasars with z > 6 including 3-10 with z > 7 dramatically increasing the numbers of quasars currently known that are suitable for detailed studies.",

keywords = "Dark ages, reionization, first stars, Galaxies: active, Galaxies: formation, Galaxies: high-redshift, Quasars: individual: DES J0454-4448",

author = "Reed, {S. L.} and McMahon, {R. G.} and M. Banerji and Becker, {G. D.} and E. Gonzalez-Solares and P. Martini and F. Ostrovski and M. Rauch and T. Abbott and Abdalla, {F. B.} and S. Allam and A. Benoit-Levy and E. Bertin and E. Buckley-Geer and D. Burke and {Carnero Rosell}, A. and {da Costa}, {L. N.} and C. D'Andrea and DePoy, {D. L.} and S. Desai and Diehl, {H. T.} and P. Doel and Cunha, {C. E.} and J. Estrada and Evrard, {A. E.} and {Fausti Neto}, A. and Finley, {D. A.} and P. Fosalba and J. Frieman and D. Gruen and K. Honscheid and D. James and S. Kent and K. Kuehn and N. Kuropatkin and O. Lahav and Maia, {M. A.G.} and M. Makler and J. Marshall and K. Merritt and R. Miquel and J. Mohr and B. Nord and R. Ogando and A. Plazas and K. Romer and A. Roodman and E. Rykoff and M. Sako and E. Sanchez and B. Santiago and M. Schubnell and I. Sevilla and C. Smith and M. Soares-Santos and E. Suchyta and Swanson, {M. E.C.} and G. Tarle and D. Thomas and D. Tucker and A. Walker and Wechsler, {R. H.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 The Authors. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.",

year = "2015",

month = dec,

day = "21",

doi = "10.1093/mnras/stv2031",

language = "English",

volume = "454",

pages = "3952--3961",

journal = "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society",

issn = "0035-8711",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

number = "4",

}

Reed, SL, McMahon, RG, Banerji, M, Becker, GD, Gonzalez-Solares, E, Martini, P, Ostrovski, F, Rauch, M, Abbott, T, Abdalla, FB, Allam, S, Benoit-Levy, A, Bertin, E, Buckley-Geer, E, Burke, D, Carnero Rosell, A, da Costa, LN, D'Andrea, C, DePoy, DL, Desai, S, Diehl, HT, Doel, P, Cunha, CE, Estrada, J, Evrard, AE, Fausti Neto, A, Finley, DA, Fosalba, P, Frieman, J, Gruen, D, Honscheid, K, James, D, Kent, S, Kuehn, K, Kuropatkin, N, Lahav, O, Maia, MAG, Makler, M, Marshall, J, Merritt, K, Miquel, R, Mohr, J, Nord, B, Ogando, R, Plazas, A, Romer, K, Roodman, A, Rykoff, E, Sako, M, Sanchez, E, Santiago, B, Schubnell, M, Sevilla, I, Smith, C, Soares-Santos, M, Suchyta, E, Swanson, MEC, Tarle, G, Thomas, D, Tucker, D, Walker, A & Wechsler, RH 2015, 'DES J0454-4448: Discovery of the first luminous z = 6 quasar from the Dark Energy Survey', Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 454, no. 4, pp. 3952-3961. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stv2031

TY - JOUR

T1 - DES J0454-4448

T2 - Discovery of the first luminous z = 6 quasar from the Dark Energy Survey

AU - Reed, S. L.

AU - McMahon, R. G.

AU - Banerji, M.

AU - Becker, G. D.

AU - Gonzalez-Solares, E.

AU - Martini, P.

AU - Ostrovski, F.

AU - Rauch, M.

AU - Abbott, T.

AU - Abdalla, F. B.

AU - Allam, S.

AU - Benoit-Levy, A.

AU - Bertin, E.

AU - Buckley-Geer, E.

AU - Burke, D.

AU - Carnero Rosell, A.

AU - da Costa, L. N.

AU - D'Andrea, C.

AU - DePoy, D. L.

AU - Desai, S.

AU - Diehl, H. T.

AU - Doel, P.

AU - Cunha, C. E.

AU - Estrada, J.

AU - Evrard, A. E.

AU - Fausti Neto, A.

AU - Finley, D. A.

AU - Fosalba, P.

AU - Frieman, J.

AU - Gruen, D.

AU - Honscheid, K.

AU - James, D.

AU - Kent, S.

AU - Kuehn, K.

AU - Kuropatkin, N.

AU - Lahav, O.

AU - Maia, M. A.G.

AU - Makler, M.

AU - Marshall, J.

AU - Merritt, K.

AU - Miquel, R.

AU - Mohr, J.

AU - Nord, B.

AU - Ogando, R.

AU - Plazas, A.

AU - Romer, K.

AU - Roodman, A.

AU - Rykoff, E.

AU - Sako, M.

AU - Sanchez, E.

AU - Santiago, B.

AU - Schubnell, M.

AU - Sevilla, I.

AU - Smith, C.

AU - Soares-Santos, M.

AU - Suchyta, E.

AU - Swanson, M. E.C.

AU - Tarle, G.

AU - Thomas, D.

AU - Tucker, D.

AU - Walker, A.

AU - Wechsler, R. H.

PY - 2015/12/21

Y1 - 2015/12/21

N2 - We present the first results of a survey for high-redshift, z ≥ 6, quasars using izY multicolour photometric observations from the Dark Energy Survey (DES). Here we report the discovery and spectroscopic confirmation of the zAB, YAB = 20.2, 20.2 (M1450 = -26.5) quasar DES J0454-4448 with a redshift of z = 6.09±0.02 based on the onset of the Ly α forest and an H I near zone size of 4.1-1.2+1.1 proper Mpc. The quasar was selected as an i-band drop out with i-z = 2.46 and zAB < 21.5 from an area of ~300 deg2. It is the brightest of our 43 candidates and was identified for spectroscopic follow-up solely based on the DES i-z and z-Y colours. The quasar is detected by WISE and has W1AB = 19.68. The discovery of one spectroscopically confirmed quasar with 5.7 < z < 6.5 and zAB = 20.2 is consistent with recent determinations of the luminosity function at z ~ 6. DES when completed will have imaged ~5000 deg2 to YAB = 23.0 (5σ point source) and we expect to discover 50-100 new quasars with z > 6 including 3-10 with z > 7 dramatically increasing the numbers of quasars currently known that are suitable for detailed studies.

AB - We present the first results of a survey for high-redshift, z ≥ 6, quasars using izY multicolour photometric observations from the Dark Energy Survey (DES). Here we report the discovery and spectroscopic confirmation of the zAB, YAB = 20.2, 20.2 (M1450 = -26.5) quasar DES J0454-4448 with a redshift of z = 6.09±0.02 based on the onset of the Ly α forest and an H I near zone size of 4.1-1.2+1.1 proper Mpc. The quasar was selected as an i-band drop out with i-z = 2.46 and zAB < 21.5 from an area of ~300 deg2. It is the brightest of our 43 candidates and was identified for spectroscopic follow-up solely based on the DES i-z and z-Y colours. The quasar is detected by WISE and has W1AB = 19.68. The discovery of one spectroscopically confirmed quasar with 5.7 < z < 6.5 and zAB = 20.2 is consistent with recent determinations of the luminosity function at z ~ 6. DES when completed will have imaged ~5000 deg2 to YAB = 23.0 (5σ point source) and we expect to discover 50-100 new quasars with z > 6 including 3-10 with z > 7 dramatically increasing the numbers of quasars currently known that are suitable for detailed studies.

KW - Dark ages, reionization, first stars

KW - Galaxies: active

KW - Galaxies: formation

KW - Galaxies: high-redshift

KW - Quasars: individual: DES J0454-4448

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84949309726&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1093/mnras/stv2031

DO - 10.1093/mnras/stv2031

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84949309726

SN - 0035-8711

VL - 454

SP - 3952

EP - 3961

JO - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

JF - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

IS - 4

ER -

DES J0454-4448: Discovery of the first luminous z = 6 quasar from the Dark Energy Survey

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