Open AccessFirst results from the Isaac Newton Telescope Wide Angle Survey: the quasar survey
Author(s) -
Sharp R.G.,
McMahon R.G.,
Irwin M.J.,
Hodgkin S.T.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
monthly notices of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.058
H-Index - 383
eISSN - 1365-2966
pISSN - 0035-8711
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2001.04845.x
Subject(s) - quasar , physics , redshift , astrophysics , redshift survey , luminosity function , luminosity , astronomy , telescope , galaxy
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 deg 2 from the final ∼100 deg 2 .