CFHQSIR: Searching z - 7 quasars with WIRCam in the CFHTLS wide fields.
PIs: Jean-Gabriel Cuby, LAM/OAMP, Marseille, France
        Chris Willott, CADC, Victoria, Canada.
Science
We propose to search for z - 7 quasars with WIRCam in the CFHT-LS Wide fields. High redshift quasars are invaluable tools to investigate the Intergalactic Medium (IGM) into the epoch of re-ionization, its ionization state and metal enrichment level. High-z quasars are also interesting to investigate their chemical properties, the growth of black holes early in the Universe, and the evolution of primo rdial objects. By observing - 130 sq. degrees in two epoch observations in the Y band, we expect to detect [3-4] quasars (average) in the redshift range [6.5 - 7.5]. We will identify targets from their detection in the Y-band images that are undetected in any of the deep optical images of the field. This is a straightforward extension of the technique that has been used to search for z - 6 quasars in the SDSS and CFHQS. Serious candidates will be followe d up as part of this programme in the Y, J and Ks band to get higher SIN and near-IR colours. The optical -near-IR colours of high-z quasars can be unambiguously discriminated from the colour of T -dwarfs - the only potential source of contamination. If exec uted over two years, this programme will be competitive with the VISTA surveys; its outcome, z - 7 quasars will remain targets of interest for certainly more than a decade. In addition to the very high legacy value that high z quasars will have, this progr amme, as a near IR follow-up of the CFHT-LS fields, will also have a very strong and long lasting legacy value.
Massive stars are those with initial masses on the main sequence above about 8 solar
masses, leading to core-collapse (or pair-instability) supernovae. They dominate the ecology of the
Universe as "cosmic engines" via their extreme output in radiation and particles - not only as
supernovae, but also during their entire lifetimes - with far-reaching consequences.
Observations
CFHQSIR: Searching z - 7 quasars with WIRCam in the CFHTLS wide fields is a CFHT large program that was allocated 160 hours of observing time on WIRCam. The program was executed during the 2010B to 2012B semesters.
The data can be downloaded directly from the CADC using the following URLs:
Access all MiMeS data at the CADC.
Raw data only.
Processed data only.