First look with JWST spectroscopy: $z \sim 8$ galaxies resemble local analogues

Abstract

Deep images and near-IR spectra of galaxies in the field of the lensing cluster SMACS J0723.3-7327 were recently taken in the Early Release Observations program of JWST. Among these, two NIRSpec spectra of galaxies at $z=7.7$ and one at $z=8.5$ were obtained, revealing for the first time rest-frame optical emission line spectra of galaxies in the epoch of reionization, including the detection of the important[OIII]4363 auroral line (see JWST PR 2022-035). We present an analysis of the emission line properties of these galaxies, finding that these galaxies have a high excitation (as indicated by high ratios of [OIII]/[OII], [NeIII]/[OII]), strong [OIII]4363/H$\gamma$, high equivalent widths, and other properties which are typical of low-metallicity star-forming galaxies. Using the direct method we determine oxygen abundances of $12+\log(O/H)=7.9$ in two $z=7.7$ galaxies, and a lower metallicity of $12+\log(O/H)\approx 7.4-7.5$ in the $z=8.5$ galaxy using different strong line methods. More accurate metallicity determinations will require better data. With stellar masses estimated from SED fits, we find that the three galaxies lie close to or below the $z \sim 2$ mass-metallicity relation. Overall, these first galaxy spectra at $z \sim 8$ show a strong resemblance of the emission lines properties of galaxies in the epoch of reionization with those of relatively rare local analogues previously studied from the SDSS. Clearly, the first JWST observations demonstrate already the incredible power of spectroscopy to reveal properties of galaxies in the early Universe.Comment: 6 pages, 6 Figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics Letter