Program: GN-2008B-Q-43

We request K-band spectroscopy with NIRI to determine systemic redshifts and black hole masses for four new z>6 quasars from the CFHQS. We will measure the location of the MgII emission lines to determine the systemic redshifts of the quasars. This is important for determining the size of the highly-ionized near-zones surrounding quasars which can be used to infer the neutral fraction of hydrogen before the quasar switched on. Accurate redshifts are also essential for searches for molecular and atomic millimetre lines to probe the evolutionary state and dynamical mass of the host galaxy. The widths of the MgII lines will be used to determine black hole masses. When compared to similar measurements of more luminous z~6 SDSS quasars we will be able to determine the nature of the correlation between black hole mass and quasar luminosity at the earliest epochs and compare with models of supermassive black hole growth.