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Abstract We analyze several key rest-optical emission-line ratios in a sample of 828 galaxies as well as composite spectra from JADES DR3 in the range 1.4 < z < 7. These emission-line ratios include: [Oiii]λ5008/Hβ, [Nii]λ6585/Hα, [Sii]λλ6718, 6733/Hα, [Oi]λ6302/Hα, O32, R23, Ne3O2, and RO2Ne3. We find evidence for a harder ionizing spectrum atz ∼ 3.5 compared toz ∼ 2 at fixed gas-phase metallicity, resulting in a pronounced shift in the star-forming galaxy locus on the [Nii]/HαBaldwin-Phillips-Terlevich (BPT) diagram and the O32 versus R23 diagram. Atz ≳ 3.5, star-forming galaxies occupy a common locus, indicating that interstellar medium (ISM) ionizing conditions at fixed gas-phase metallicity do not evolve strongly at these early cosmic times. There is a connection between ISM ionizing conditions and the chemical abundance patterns (i.e.,α/Fe) in massive stars, providing the ionizing radiation field. Therefore, the lack of evolution in ISM ionizing conditions atz ≳ 3.5, followed by evolution towards a softer ionizing spectrum at fixed nebular metallicity as cosmic time proceeds toz ∼ 2 and lower redshift mirrors the chemical abundance patterns in Milky Way stars as a function of iron abundance. Our results highlight the diagnostic power of emission-line diagrams in the era of JWST to further our understanding of the ISM conditions into the Epoch of Reionization. 

Abstract We present spatially resolved rest-frame optical emission line maps of four galaxies atz ∼ 2 observed with the Keck/OH-Suppressing Infra-Red Imaging Spectrograph to study the physical conditions of the interstellar medium (ISM) at cosmic noon. Our analysis of strong emission line ratios in these galaxies reveals an offset from the local star-forming locus on the Baldwin–Phillips–Terlevich diagram but agrees with other star-forming galaxies at similar redshifts. Despite the offset toward higher [Oiii]λ5008/Hβand [Nii]λ6585/Hα, these strong line ratios remain consistent with or below the maximum starburst threshold even in the inner ∼1 kpc region of the galaxies, providing no compelling evidence for central active galactic nucleus activity. The galaxies also exhibit flat radial gas-phase metallicity gradients, consistent with previous studies ofz ∼ 2 galaxies and suggesting efficient radial mixing possibly driven by strong outflows from intense star formation. Overall, our results reveal the highly star-forming nature of these galaxies, with the potential to launch outflows that flatten metallicity gradients through significant radial gas mixing. Future observations with JWST/NIRSpec are crucial to detect fainter emission lines at higher spatial resolution to further constrain the physical processes and ionization mechanisms that shape the ISM during cosmic noon. 

Abstract We present a systematic investigation of the evolution of the mass–metallicity relation (MZR) and fundamental metallicity relation (FMR) using uniform metallicity diagnostics across redshiftsz∼ 0 toz∼ 3.3. We present new Keck/Deep Imaging Multi-Object Spectrograph measurements of the [OII]λλ3726, 3729 emission line doublet for star-forming galaxies atz∼ 1.5 with existing measurements of redder rest-optical lines from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field survey. These new observations enable uniform estimation of the gas-phase oxygen abundance using ratios of the [OII], Hβ, and [OIII] lines for mass-binned samples of star-forming galaxies in six redshift bins, employing strong line calibrations that account for the distinct interstellar medium ionization conditions atz< 1 andz> 1. We find that the low-mass power-law slope of the MZR remains constant over this redshift range with a value ofγ= 0.28 ± 0.01, implying the outflow metal loading factor ( ${\zeta }_{\text{out}}=\frac{Z_{\text{out}}}{Z_{\text{ISM}}}\frac{{\dot{M}}_{\text{out}}}{\text{SFR}}$) scales approximately as ${\zeta }_{\mathrm{out}}\propto M_{*}^{-0.3}$out to at leastz∼ 3.3. The normalization of the MZR at 10¹⁰M_⊙decreases with increasing redshift at a rate of $d\log \left(\text{O/H}\right)/dz=-0.11\pm 0.01$across the full redshift range. We find that any evolution of the FMR is smaller than 0.1 dex out toz∼ 3.3. We compare to cosmological galaxy formation simulations, and find that IllustrisTNG matches our measured combination of a nearly-invariant MZR slope, rate of MZR normalization decrease, and constant or very weakly evolving FMR. This work provides the most detailed view of MZR and FMR evolution from the present day through Cosmic Noon with a fine time sampling of 1−3 Gyr, setting a robust baseline for metallicity evolution studies atz> 4 with JWST. 

Abstract We present the early data release of the multicycle JWST-NEXUS treasury program (2024–2028), which includes NIRCam imaging and WFSS observations from the first (partial) NEXUS-Wide epoch covering the central 100 arcmin²of the NEXUS field, located near the north ecliptic pole and within the Euclid Ultra-Deep Field. We release reduced NIRCam mosaics (F090W, F115W, F150W, F200W, F356W, and F444W), photometric source catalogs, as well as preliminary WFSS spectra (in F322W2 and F444W) for the subset of bright sources (F356W <21 mag or F444W <21 mag). These observations fully cover the NEXUS-Deep area, and anchor the long-term baseline of the program. These data will be used for initial target selection for the NIRSpec/Multi-Object Spectroscopy (MOS) starting from 2025 June. The NIRCam imaging reaches depths of 27.4–28.2 (AB) mag in F090W–F444W. Upcoming NEXUS-Wide epochs will expand the area to the full ∼400 arcmin², and improve the NIRCam exposure depths in the Wide tier by a factor of 3. In addition, this central region will be repeatedly covered by the NEXUS-Deep observations (NIRCam imaging and NIRSpec/MOS PRISM spectroscopy) over 18 epochs with a ∼2 month cadence. We demonstrate the data quality of the first NEXUS observations, and showcase some example science cases enabled by these data. 

We present spatially-resolved rest-frame optical emission line maps of four galaxies at z∼2 observed with Keck/OSIRIS to study the physical conditions of the ISM at Cosmic Noon. Our analysis of strong emission line ratios in these galaxies reveals an offset from the local star-forming locus on the BPT diagram, but agrees with other star-forming galaxies at similar redshifts. Despite the offset towards higher [O III]λ5008/Hβ and [N II]λ6585/Hα, these strong-line ratios remain consistent with or below the maximum starburst threshold even in the inner ∼1 kpc region of the galaxies, providing no compelling evidence for central AGN activity. The galaxies also exhibit flat radial gas-phase metallicity gradients, consistent with previous studies of z∼2 galaxies and suggesting efficient radial mixing possibly driven by strong outflows from intense star formation. Overall, our results reveal the highly star-forming nature of these galaxies, with the potential to launch outflows that flatten metallicity gradients through significant radial gas mixing. Future observations with JWST/NIRSpec are crucial to detect fainter emission lines at higher spatial resolution to further constrain the physical processes and ionization mechanisms that shape the ISM during Cosmic Noon. 

Abstract We present Keck Cosmic Web Imager integral field observations of extended Lyαemission in the circumgalactic medium of 27 typical star-forming galaxies atz∼ 2, drawn from the Multi-Object Spectrometer for Infra-Red Exploration (MOSFIRE) Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) survey. Using composite spectra in two bins of star formation rate (SFR), star formation rate surface density (Σ_SFR), and other galactic properties, we measure spatial variations in the Lyαprofile across three regions in the Lyαhalo. We find single-peaked, redshifted profiles are ubiquitous within a central 7 kpc radius region. Further out in the halo (7–14 and 14–21 kpc), the Lyαprofile of the resonantly scattered emission exhibits more diversity, either transitioning to a double-peaked profile or remaining single peaked across the halo. We find a shorter scale length of the Lyαhalo surface brightness profile for composite halos with faster winds. The composites have a similar average inclination, suggesting those with faster winds clear channels in the interstellar medium (ISM), reducing the fraction of Lyαphotons resonantly scattered to large radii. A uniform expanding shell radiative transfer model reproduces the shape but not the normalization of the observed double-peaked Lyαprofiles. Models that adopt a more realistic, clumpy ISM are likely needed to reproduce both the shape and normalization of the Lyαprofiles. 

Abstract We investigate the multiphase structure of gas flows in galaxies. We study 80 galaxies during the epoch of peak star formation (1.4 ≤z≤ 2.7) using data from the Keck/Low-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (LRIS) and the Very Large Telescope/K-Band Multi-Object Spectrograph (KMOS). Our analysis provides a simultaneous probe of outflows using UV emission and absorption features and Hαemission. With this unprecedented data set, we examine the properties of gas flows estimated from LRIS and KMOS in relation to other galaxy properties, such as star formation rate (SFR), SFR surface density (Σ_SFR), stellar mass (M_*), and main-sequence offset (ΔMS). We find no strong correlations between outflow velocity measured from rest-UV line centroids and galaxy properties. However, we find that galaxies with detected outflows show higher averages in SFR, Σ_SFR, and ΔMS than those lacking outflow detections, indicating a connection between outflow and galaxy properties. Furthermore, we find a lower average outflow velocity than previously reported, suggesting greater absorption at the systemic redshift of the galaxy. Finally, we detect outflows in 49% of our LRIS sample and 30% in the KMOS sample and find no significant correlation between outflow detection and inclination. These results may indicate that outflows are not collimated and that Hαoutflows have a lower covering fraction than low-ionization interstellar absorption lines. Additionally, these tracers may be sensitive to different physical scales of outflow activity. A larger sample size with a wider dynamic range in galaxy properties is needed to further test this picture. 

Abstract Integral field spectroscopy (IFS) is a powerful tool for understanding the formation of galaxies across cosmic history. We present the observing strategy and first results of MSA-3D, a novel JWST program using multi-object spectroscopy in a slit-stepping strategy to produce IFS data cubes. The program observed 43 normal star-forming galaxies at redshifts 0.5 ≲z≲ 1.5, corresponding to the epoch when spiral thin-disk galaxies of the modern Hubble sequence are thought to emerge, obtaining kiloparsec-scale maps of rest-frame optical nebular emission lines with spectral resolutionR≃ 2700. Here we describe the multiplexed slit-stepping method, which is >15 times more efficient than the NIRSpec IFS mode for our program. As an example of the data quality, we present a case study of an individual galaxy atz= 1.104 (stellar massM_*= 10^10.3M_⊙, star formation rate, SFR = 3M_⊙yr⁻¹) with prominent face-on spiral structure. We show that the galaxy exhibits a rotationally supported disk with moderate velocity dispersion ( $\sigma =36_{-4}^{+5}$km s⁻¹), a negative radial metallicity gradient (−0.020 ± 0.002 dex kpc⁻¹), a dust attenuation gradient, and an exponentially decreasing SFR density profile that closely matches the stellar continuum. These properties are characteristic of local spirals, indicating that mature galaxies are in place atz∼ 1. We also describe the customized data reduction and original cube-building software pipelines that we have developed to exploit the powerful slit-stepping technique. Our results demonstrate the ability of JWST slit-stepping to study galaxy populations at intermediate to high redshifts, with data quality similar to current surveys of thez∼ 0.1 Universe. 

Abstract We present Keck Cosmic Web Imager integral-field unit observations around extended Lyαhalos of 27 typical star-forming galaxies with redshifts 2.0 <z< 3.2 drawn from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field survey. We examine the average Lyαsurface brightness profiles in bins of star formation rate (SFR), stellar mass (M_*), age, stellar continuum reddening, SFR surface density (Σ_SFR), and Σ_SFRnormalized by stellar mass (Σ_sSFR). The scale lengths of the halos correlate with stellar mass, age, and stellar continuum reddening and anticorrelate with SFR, Σ_SFR, and Σ_sSFR. These results are consistent with a scenario in which the down-the-barrel fraction of Lyαemission is modulated by the low-column-density channels in the interstellar medium, and in which the neutral gas covering fraction is related to the physical properties of the galaxies. Specifically, we find that this covering fraction increases with stellar mass, age, andE(B−V) and decreases with SFR, Σ_SFR, and Σ_sSFR. We also find that the resonantly scattered Lyαemission suffers greater attenuation than the (nonresonant) stellar continuum emission, and that the difference in attenuation increases with stellar mass, age, and stellar continuum reddening, and decreases with Σ_sSFR. These results imply that more reddened galaxies have more dust in their circumgalactic medium. 

ABSTRACT We use the large spectroscopic data set of the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field survey to investigate the kinematics and energetics of ionized gas outflows. Using a sample of 598 star-forming galaxies at redshift 1.4 < z < 3.8, we decompose [O iii] and $$\rm {H}\,\alpha$$ emission lines into narrow and broad components, finding significant detections of broad components in 10 per cent of the sample. The ionized outflow velocity from individual galaxies appears independent of galaxy properties, such as stellar mass, star formation rate (SFR), and SFR surface density (ΣSFR). Adopting a simple outflow model, we estimate the mass-, energy-, and momentum-loading factors of the ionized outflows, finding modest values with averages of 0.33, 0.04, and 0.22, respectively. The larger momentum- than energy-loading factors, for the adopted physical parameters, imply that these ionized outflows are primarily momentum driven. We further find a marginal correlation (2.5σ) between the mass-loading factor and stellar mass in agreement with predictions by simulations, scaling as ηm$$\propto M_{\star }^{-0.45}$$. This shallow scaling relation is consistent with these ionized outflows being driven by a combination of mechanical energy generated by supernovae explosions and radiation pressure acting on dusty material. In a majority of galaxies, the outflowing material does not appear to have sufficient velocity to escape the gravitational potential of their host, likely recycling back at later times. Together, these results suggest that the ionized outflows traced by nebular emission lines are negligible, with the bulk of mass and energy carried out in other gaseous phases.