Direct T _e-based Metallicities of z = 2–9 Galaxies with JWST/NIRSpec: Empirical Metallicity Calibrations Applicable from Reionization to Cosmic Noon

Abstract

We report detections of the [O III]λ4364 auroral emission line for 16 galaxies at z = 2.1–8.7, measured from JWST/NIRSpec observations obtained as part of the Cosmic Evolution Early Release Science (CEERS) survey program. We combine this CEERS sample with 9 objects from the literature at z = 4‑9 with auroral-line detections from JWST/NIRSpec and 21 galaxies at z = 1.4‑3.7 with auroral-line detections from ground-based spectroscopy. We derive electron temperature (T _e) and direct-method oxygen abundances for the combined sample of 46 star-forming galaxies at z = 1.4‑8.7. We use these measurements to construct the first high-redshift empirical T _e-based metallicity calibrations for the strong-line ratios [O III]/Hβ, [O II]/Hβ, R23 = ([O III]+[O II])/Hβ, [O III]/[O II], and [Ne III]/[O II]. These new calibrations are valid over 12+log(O/H) = 7.4‑8.3 and can be applied to samples of star-forming galaxies at z = 2‑9, leading to an improvement in the accuracy of metallicity determinations at Cosmic Noon and in the Epoch of Reionization. The high-redshift strong-line relations are offset from calibrations based on typical z ∼ 0 galaxies or H II regions, reflecting the known evolution of ionization conditions between z ∼ 0 and z ∼ 2. Deep spectroscopic programs with JWST/NIRSpec promise to improve statistics at the low and high ends of the metallicity range covered by the current sample, as well as to improve the detection rate of [N II]λ6585 and thus allow the future assessment of N-based indicators. These new high-redshift calibrations will enable accurate characterizations of metallicity scaling relations at high redshift, improving our understanding of feedback and baryon cycling in the early Universe.