The detection of numerous and relatively bright galaxies at redshifts z > 9
has prompted new investigations into the star-forming properties of
high-redshift galaxies. Using local forms of the initial mass function (IMF) to
estimate stellar masses of these galaxies from their light output leads to
galaxy masses that are at the limit allowed for the state of the LambdaCDM
Universe at their redshift. We explore how varying the IMF assumed in studies
of galaxies in the early universe changes the inferred values for the stellar
masses of these galaxies. We infer galaxy properties with the SED fitting code
Prospector using varying IMF parameterizations for a sample of 102 galaxies
from the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES) spectroscopically
confirmed to be at z > 6.7, with additional photometry from the JWST
Extragalactic Medium Band Survey (JEMS) for twenty-one galaxies. We demonstrate
that models with stellar masses reduced by a factor of three or more do not
affect the modeled spectral energy distribution (SED).Comment: The Significance statement is required for PNAS submissio