First Discoveries of z > 6 Quasars with the DECam Legacy Survey and UKIRT Hemisphere Survey

Abstract

We present the first discoveries from a survey of z  ≳ 6 quasars using imaging data from the DECam Legacy Survey (DECaLS) in the optical, the UKIRT Deep Infrared Sky Survey (UKIDSS) and a preliminary version of the UKIRT Hemisphere Survey (UHS) in the near-IR, and ALLWISE in the mid-IR. DECaLS will image 9000 deg 2 of sky down to z AB  ∼ 23.0, and UKIDSS and UHS will map the northern sky at 0 < decl.  < 21.5, ∼1000 z  ∼ 6 quasars to z AB  < 23, and ∼30 quasars at z  > 6.5 to J VEGA  < 19.5.