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Abstract The first James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Near InfraRed Camera imaging in the field of the galaxy cluster PLCK G165.7+67.0 (z= 0.35) uncovered a Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) atz= 1.78, called “SN H0pe.” Three different images of this one SN were detected as a result of strong gravitational lensing, each one traversing a different path in spacetime, thereby inducing a relative delay in the arrival of each image. Follow-up JWST observations of all three SN images enabled photometric and rare spectroscopic measurements of the two relative time delays. Following strict blinding protocols which oversaw a live unblinding and regulated postunblinding changes, these two measured time delays were compared to the predictions of seven independently constructed cluster lens models to measure a value for the Hubble constant,H₀ =  71.8 + 9.2 − 8.1 km s⁻¹Mpc⁻¹. The range of admissibleH₀values predicted across the lens models limits further precision, reflecting the well-known degeneracies between lens model constraints and time delays. It has long been theorized that a way forward is to leverage a standard candle, but this has not been realized until now. For the first time, the lens models are evaluated by their agreement with the SN absolute magnifications, breaking degeneracies and producing our best estimate,H₀ =  ${75.7}_{-5.5}^{+8.1}$km s⁻¹Mpc⁻¹. This is the first precise measurement ofH₀from a multiply imaged SN Ia and only the second from any multiply imaged SN. 

Recent observations of caustic-crossing galaxies at redshift 0.7 ≲ z ≲ 1 show a wealth of transient events. Most of them are believed to be microlensing events of highly magnified stars. Earlier work predicts such events should be common near the critical curves (CCs) of galaxy clusters (“near region”), but some are found relatively far away from these CCs (“far region”). We consider the possibility that substructure on milliarcsecond scales (few parsecs in the lens plane) is boosting the microlensing signal in the far region. We study the combined magnification from the macrolens, millilenses, and microlenses (“3M lensing”), when the macromodel magnification is relatively low (common in the far region). After considering realistic populations of millilenses and microlenses, we conclude that the enhanced microlensing rate around millilenses is not sufficient to explain the high fraction of observed events in the far region. Instead, we find that the shape of the luminosity function (LF) of the lensed stars combined with the amount of substructure in the lens plane determines the number of microlensing events found near and far from the CC. By measuringβ(the exponent of the adopted power law LF,dN/dL = ϕ(L)∝(1/L)^β), and the number density of microlensing events at each location, one can create a pseudoimage of the underlying distribution of mass on small scales. We identify two regimes: (i) positive-imaging regime whereβ > 2 and the number density of events is greater around substructures, and (ii) negative-imaging regime whereβ < 2 and the number density of microlensing events is reduced around substructures. This technique opens a new window to map the distribution of dark-matter substructure down to ∼10³ M_⊙. We study the particular case of seven microlensing events found in the Flashlights program in the Dragon arc (z = 0.725). A population of supergiant stars having a steep LF withβ = 2.55_−0.56^+0.72fits the distribution of these events in the far and near regions. We also find that the new microlensing events from JWST observations in this arc imply a surface mass density substructure of Σ_∗= 54M_⊙pc⁻², consistent with the expected population of stars from the intracluster medium. We identify a small region of high density of microlensing events, and interpret it as evidence of a possible invisible substructure, for which we derive a mass of ∼1.3 × 10⁸ M_⊙(within its Einstein radius) in the galaxy cluster. 

Strong gravitational magnification enables the detection of faint background sources and allows researchers to resolve their internal structures and even identify individual stars in distant galaxies. Highly magnified individual stars are useful in various applications, including studies of stellar populations in distant galaxies and constraining dark matter structures in the lensing plane. However, these applications have been hampered by the small number of individual stars observed, as typically one or a few stars are identified from each distant galaxy. Here, we report the discovery of more than 40 microlensed stars in a single galaxy behind Abell 370 at redshift of 0.725 (dubbed ‘the Dragon arc’) when the Universe was half of its current age, using James Webb Space Telescope observations with the time-domain technique. These events were found near the expected lensing critical curves, suggesting that these are magnified stars that appear as transients from intracluster stellar microlenses. Through multi-wavelength photometry, we constrained their stellar types and found that many of them are consistent with red giants or supergiants magnified by factors of hundreds. This finding reveals a high occurrence of microlensing events in the Dragon arc and demonstrates that time-domain observations by the James Webb Space Telescope could lead to the possibility of conducting statistical studies of high-redshift stars. 

ABSTRACT We present a new analysis of the rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) and optical spectra of a sample of three z > 8 galaxies discovered behind the gravitational lensing cluster RX J2129.4+0009. We combine these observations with z > 7.5 galaxies from the literature, for which similar measurements are available. As already pointed out in other studies, the high [O iii]λ5007/[O ii]λ3727 ratios (O32) and steep UV continuum slopes (β) are consistent with the values observed for low-redshift Lyman continuum emitters, suggesting that such galaxies contribute to the ionizing budget of the intergalactic medium. We construct a logistic regression model to estimate the probability of a galaxy being a Lyman continuum emitter based on the measured MUV, β, and O32. Using this probability and the UV luminosity function, we construct an empirical model that estimates the contribution of high-redshift galaxies to reionization. The preferred scenario in our analysis shows that at z ∼ 8, the average escape fraction of the galaxy population [i.e. including both LyC emitters (LCEs) and non-emitters] varies with MUV, with intermediate UV luminosity (−19 < MUV < −16) galaxies having larger escape fraction. Galaxies with faint UV luminosity (−16 < MUV < −13.5) contribute most of the ionizing photons. The relative contribution of faint versus bright galaxies depends on redshift, with the intermediate UV galaxies becoming more important over time. UV bright galaxies, although more likely to be LCEs at a given log(O32) and β, contribute the least of the total ionizing photon budget. 

Abstract A tight positive correlation between the stellar mass and the gas-phase metallicity of galaxies has been observed at low redshifts. The redshift evolution of this correlation can strongly constrain theories of galaxy evolution. The advent of JWST allows probing the mass–metallicity relation at redshifts far beyond what was previously accessible. Here we report the discovery of two emission line galaxies at redshifts 8.15 and 8.16 in JWST NIRCam imaging and NIRSpec spectroscopy of targets gravitationally lensed by the cluster RX J2129.4+0005. We measure their metallicities and stellar masses along with nine additional galaxies at 7.2 <z_spec< 9.5 to report the first quantitative statistical inference of the mass–metallicity relation atz≈ 8. We measure ∼0.9 dex evolution in the normalization of the mass–metallicity relation fromz≈ 8 to the local universe; at a fixed stellar mass, galaxies are 8 times less metal enriched atz≈ 8 compared to the present day. Our inferred normalization is in agreement with the predictions of FIRE simulations. Our inferred slope of the mass–metallicity relation is similar to or slightly shallower than that predicted by FIRE or observed at lower redshifts. We compare thez≈ 8 galaxies to extremely low-metallicity analog candidates in the local universe, finding that they are generally distinct from extreme emission line galaxies or “green peas,” but are similar in strong emission line ratios and metallicities to “blueberry galaxies.” Despite this similarity, at a fixed stellar mass, thez≈ 8 galaxies have systematically lower metallicities compared to blueberry galaxies. 

Abstract We investigate the potential of using a sample of very high-redshift (2 ≲z≲ 6) (VHZ) Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) attainable by JWST on constraining cosmological parameters. At such high redshifts, the age of the universe is young enough that the VHZ SN Ia sample comprises the very first SNe Ia of the universe, with progenitors among the very first generation of low-mass stars that the universe has made. We show that the VHZ SNe Ia can be used to disentangle systematic effects due to the luminosity distance evolution with redshifts intrinsic to SN Ia standardization. Assuming that the systematic evolution can be described by a linear or logarithmic formula, we found that the coefficients of this dependence can be determined accurately and decoupled from cosmological models. Systematic evolution as large as 0.15 mag and 0.45 mag out toz= 5 can be robustly separated from popular cosmological models for linear and logarithmic evolution, respectively. The VHZ SNe Ia will lay the foundation for quantifying the systematic redshift evolution of SN Ia luminosity distance scales. When combined with SN Ia surveys at comparatively lower redshifts, the VHZ SNe Ia allow for the precise measurement of the history of the expansion of the universe fromz∼ 0 to the epoch approaching reionization. 

Abstract We present a new parametric lens model for the G165.7+67.0 galaxy cluster, which was discovered with Planck through its bright submillimeter flux, originating from a pair of extraordinary dusty star-forming galaxies (DSFGs) atz≈ 2.2. Using JWST and interferometric mm/radio observations, we characterize the intrinsic physical properties of the DSFGs, which are separated by only ∼1″ (8 kpc) and a velocity difference ΔV≲ 600 km s⁻¹in the source plane, and thus are likely undergoing a major merger. Boasting intrinsic star formation rates SFR_IR= 320 ± 70 and 400 ± 80M_⊙yr⁻¹, stellar masses of $\log \left[M_{\star }/M_{\odot }\right]=10.2\pm 0.1$and 10.3 ± 0.1, and dust attenuations ofA_V= 1.5 ± 0.3 and 1.2 ± 0.3, they are remarkably similar objects. We perform spatially resolved pixel-by-pixel spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting using rest-frame near-UV to near-IR imaging from JWST/NIRCam for both galaxies, resolving some stellar structures down to 100 pc scales. Based on their resolved specific star formation rates (SFRs) andUVJcolors, both DSFGs are experiencing significant galaxy-scale star formation events. If they are indeed interacting gravitationally, this strong starburst could be the hallmark of gas that has been disrupted by an initial close passage. In contrast, the host galaxy of SN H0pe has a much lower SFR than the DSFGs, and we present evidence for the onset of inside-out quenching and large column densities of dust even in regions of low specific SFR. Based on the intrinsic SFRs of the DSFGs inferred from UV through far-infrared SED modeling, this pair of objects alone is predicted to yield an observable 1.1 ± 0.2 core-collapse supernovae per year, making this cluster field ripe for continued monitoring. 

Abstract The Prime Extragalactic Areas for Reionization and Lensing Science, a James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) GTO program, obtained a set of unique NIRCam observations that have enabled us to significantly improve the default photometric calibration across both NIRCam modules. The observations consisted of three epochs of 4-band (F150W, F200W, F356W, and F444W) NIRCam imaging in the Spitzer IRAC Dark Field (IDF). The three epochs were six months apart and spanned the full duration of Cycle 1. As the IDF is in the JWST continuous viewing zone, we were able to design the observations such that the two modules of NIRCam, modules A and B, were flipped by 180° and completely overlapped each other’s footprints in alternate epochs. We were therefore able to directly compare the photometry of the same objects observed with different modules and detectors, and we found significant photometric residuals up to ∼0.05 mag in some detectors and filters, for the default version of the calibration files that we used (jwst_1039.pmap). Moreover, there are multiplicative gradients present in the data obtained in the two long-wavelength bands. The problem is less severe in the data reduced using the latest pmap (jwst_1130.pmapas of 2023 September), but it is still present, and is non-negligible. We provide a recipe to correct for this systematic effect to bring the two modules onto a more consistent calibration, to a photometric precision better than ∼0.02 mag. 

ABSTRACT We present six spectroscopically confirmed massive protostructures, spanning a redshift range of 2.5 < z < 4.5 in the Extended Chandra Deep Field South (ECDFS) field discovered as part of the Charting Cluster Construction in VUDS and ORELSE (C3VO) survey. We identify and characterize these remarkable systems by applying an overdensity measurement technique on an extensive data compilation of public and proprietary spectroscopic and photometric observations in this highly studied extragalactic field. Each of these six protostructures, i.e. a large scale overdensity (volume >9000 cMpc3) of more than 2.5σδ above the field density levels at these redshifts, have a total mass Mtot ≥ 1014.8 M⊙ and one or more highly overdense (overdensity$$\, \gt 5\sigma _{\delta }$$) peaks. One of the most complex protostructures discovered is a massive (Mtot = 1015.1M⊙) system at z ∼ 3.47 that contains six peaks and 55 spectroscopic members. We also discover protostructures at z ∼ 3.30 and z ∼ 3.70 that appear to at least partially overlap on sky with the protostructure at z ∼ 3.47, suggesting a possible connection. We additionally report on the discovery of three massive protostructures at z = 2.67, 2.80, and 4.14 and discuss their properties. Finally, we discuss the relationship between star formation rate and environment in the richest of these protostructures, finding an enhancement of star formation activity in the densest regions. The diversity of the protostructures reported here provide an opportunity to study the complex effects of dense environments on galaxy evolution over a large redshift range in the early Universe. 

Abstract “Changing-look” active galactic nuclei (CL-AGNs) challenge our basic ideas about the physics of accretion flows and circumnuclear gas around supermassive black holes. Using first-year Sloan Digital Sky Survey V (SDSS-V) repeated spectroscopy of nearly 29,000 previously known active galactic nuclei (AGNs), combined with dedicated follow-up spectroscopy, and publicly available optical light curves, we have identified 116 CL-AGNs where (at least) one broad emission line has essentially (dis-)appeared, as well as 88 other extremely variable systems. Our CL-AGN sample, with 107 newly identified cases, is the largest reported to date, and includes ∼0.4% of the AGNs reobserved in first-year SDSS-V operations. Among our CL-AGNs, 67% exhibit dimming while 33% exhibit brightening. Our sample probes extreme AGN spectral variability on months to decades timescales, including some cases of recurring transitions on surprisingly short timescales (≲2 months in the rest frame). We find that CL events are preferentially found in lower-Eddington-ratio (f_Edd) systems: Our CL-AGNs have af_Edddistribution that significantly differs from that of a carefully constructed, redshift- and luminosity-matched control sample (Anderson–Darling test yieldingp_AD≈ 6 × 10⁻⁵; medianf_Edd≈ 0.025 versus 0.043). This preference for lowf_Eddstrengthens previous findings of higher CL-AGN incidence at lowerf_Edd, found in smaller samples. Finally, we show that the broad Mgiiemission line in our CL-AGN sample tends to vary significantly less than the broad Hβemission line. Our large CL-AGN sample demonstrates the advantages and challenges in using multi-epoch spectroscopy from large surveys to study extreme AGN variability and physics.