Searches for Quasars at z > 5

Abstract

Quasars continue to be the most luminous objects known in the universe but are now rivaled by galaxies for having the largest redshifts. I review current techniques for finding quasars at z > 5 and the status of current optical surveys. I compare the spectra of known quasars with z \approx 5 with the spectra of some recently discovered galaxies with z > 5 to see what we may expect in the future from surveys for high redshift quasars and galaxies. The prominent emission lines of quasars should make them easier to detect and confirm spectroscopically than the z > 5 galaxies discovered so far. An update section to May, 2000 discusses new discoveries made after the meeting.