Optical-NIR spectra of quasars close to reionization (z~ 6)

X-shooter, with its characteristics of resolution, spectral coverage and efficiency, provides a unique opportunity to obtain spectra of the highest-redshift quasars (z ~ 6) that will allow us to carry out successful investigations on key cosmological issues, from the details of the re-ionization process, to the evolution of the first galaxies and AGNs. In this paper, we present the spectra of three z ~ 6 quasars: one obtained during the commissioning of X-shooter and two in the context of our ongoing GTO programme. Combining this sample with data in the literature, we update the value of the C IV cosmic mass density in the range 4.5 < z < 5, confirming the constant trend with redshift between 2.5 and 5.
Comment: Proceedings of the workshop "The first year with X-shooter" October 19-22 2010, Como, Italy. Accepted for publication in Astronomische Nachrichten. Typos corrected and reference updated