Collaborative Research: Placing High-Redshift Quasars in Perspective: a Gemini Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Survey

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Part 1Shining brighter than a trillion suns, quasars are the most luminous persistentsources in the universe. These cosmic powerhouses form when gas is funneledtoward giant black holes at the centers of galaxies. Since quasars are thoughtto shape the growth of their galaxies, better understanding these sources is oneof modern astronomy's major goals. This project makes new telescopicobservations over several years to improve estimates of the most basicproperties of quasars, enhancing a wide range of astronomical studies.Some 350 hours of infrared observations of 400 distant quasars with theGemini-North telescope in Hawaii will produce the best and largest data set ofits kind. Studying the infrared light will lead to better estimates of themasses of the quasars' black holes, their fueling rates, and their distancesfrom Earth. These results will, in turn, help to develop improved equations forthese properties in the larger quasar population. Comparison with nearby quasarswill also show how these sources change over time, indicating how the galaxiessurrounding such quasars change as well. This project represents a steppingstone in understanding quasars which, in turn, will enable more in-depth projectsat the forefront of modern astronomy.Part 2Quasars are the most powerful objects in the universe. They greatly outshine allthe stars in the galaxies in which they reside. They consist of growing blackholes, millions to billions of times more massive than the sun. Betterunderstanding these most energetic of objects, their properties, their effectson the galaxies that surround them, and how they grow over time are importantquestions in modern astronomy. This project will use one of the world's largesttelescopes to better understand some of the most powerful and distant quasars inorder to help answer these questions. Additional related areas at the forefrontof modern astronomy will benefit as well.The main goal of this project is to substantially improve how we measure thefundamental properties of distant quasars. These properties include the blackhole mass, fueling rate, and distance. Another goal is to see how theseproperties have changed over time. To achieve these goals, the investigatorswill use the Gemini-North telescope in Hawaii to observe the infrared light frommore than 400 distant quasars, thereby creating the largest and best such dataset to date. This effort will take 350 hours of telescope time over severalyears. Analysis of certain features in the light of these sources will providethe best measurements yet of key quasar properties. The results of this projectwill yield new calibrations for quasars in general, and enable a wide range offollow-up studies.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.