Abstract: Patrick S. Osmer
        (Monday April 27, 3:00 PM)
        
The Evolution of Quasars and Their Connection with Galaxies


Quasars are the most luminous objects known in the universe
and represent stages of great activity in the centers of galaxies.
The population of quasars evolves strongly with redshift.  The
space density of luminous quasars is roughly 1000 times greater
at redshifts 2 - 3 than at present.  At still higher redshift, there is
now good evidence that the space density declines steeply.
These results indicate that we may have seen back to the epoch
of quasar formation.

In the meantime, advances in telescopes and instrumentation
have led to the discovery of galaxies at redshifts z > 4,  a regime
that formerly could only be reached with quasars.  Indeed, for
the first time since the mid-1960s, the objects of largest known
redshift are galaxies.  At the same time, there have been great
advances in theoretical understanding and modeling of galaxy
formation.  The combination of all these factors makes this
a particularly exciting time in the development of the subject.

In this talk I will review recent observations on the evolution of
quasars and discuss new surveys for quasars both at the highest
redshifts, z > 5, and at luminosities down to those of L* galaxies
at redshifts 2 - 3.  I will also discuss possible connections
between the evolution of quasars and the evolution of the star
formation rate in young galaxies.