M , OF MOLECULAR GAS IN THE HOST GALAXY OF THE z p 5 . 77 SDSS QUASAR

We have detected emission by the CO(5–4) and (6–5) rotational transitions at from the z p 5.7722 0.0006 host galaxy of the SDSS quasar J0927 2001 using the Plateau de Bure Interferometer. The peak line flux density for the CO(5–4) line is mJy, with a line FWHM p 610 110 km s . The implied molecular gas 1 0.72 0.09 mass is M . We also detect the 90 GHz continuum at mJy, consistent with a 10 (1.6 0.3) # 10 0.12 0.03 , 47 K dust spectrum extrapolated from higher frequencies. J0927 2001 is the second example of a huge molecular gas reservoir within the host galaxy of a quasar within 1 Gyr of the big bang. Observations of J0927 2001 are consistent with a massive starburst coeval with a bright quasar phase in the galaxy, suggesting the rapid formation of both a supermassive black hole through accretion, and the stellar host spheroid, at a time close to the end of cosmic reionization. Subject headings: galaxies: formation — galaxies: high-redshift — quasars: general — radio lines: galaxies — submillimeter Online material: color figure