@article{22264,
  abstract     = {The correlation between galaxy stellar mass and gas-phase metallicity, known as the mass–metallicity relation (MZR), gives key insights into the processes that govern galaxy evolution. However, unquantified observational and selection biases can result in systematic errors in attempts to recover the intrinsic MZR, particularly at higher redshifts. We characterize the MZR at z ∼ 3–6 within a fully Bayesian framework using JWST/NIRSpec spectra of 191 galaxies from the RUBIES survey. We forward model the observed mass–metallicity surface using prospector-generated spectra to account for two selection biases: the survey selection function and the success in observing high signal-to-noise ratio emission lines. We demonstrate that the RUBIES selection function, based on F444W magnitude and F150W – F444W color, has a negligible effect on our measured MZR. A correct treatment of the non-Gaussian metallicity uncertainties from strong-line calibrations lowers the derived MZR normalization by 0.2 dex and flattens the slope by ∼20%; forward modeling the effect of emission line observability steepens the slope by ∼15%. Both of these biases must be taken into account in order to properly measure the intrinsic MZR. This novel forward-modeling process motivates careful consideration of selection functions in future surveys, and paves the way for robust, high-redshift chemical enrichment studies that trace the evolution of the MZR across cosmic time.},
  author       = {Lewis, Zach and Maseda, Michael V. and De Graaff, Anna and Leja, Joel and Wang, Bingjie and Rix, Hans Walter and Mcconachie, Ian and Cleri, Nikko J. and Bezanson, Rachel and Boogaard, Leindert A. and Brammer, Gabriel and Greene, Jenny E. and Hirschmann, Michaela and Katz, Harley and Labbé, Ivo and Matthee, Jorryt J and Miller, Tim B. and Naidu, Rohan P. and Oesch, Pascal A. and Setton, David J. and Suess, Katherine A. and Weibel, Andrea and Whitaker, Katherine E. and Williams, Christina C.},
  issn         = {1538-4357},
  journal      = {The Astrophysical Journal},
  keywords     = {Galaxy evolution, Chemical enrichment, Metallicity, Galaxy abundances, Scaling relations},
  number       = {2},
  publisher    = {IOP Publishing},
  title        = {{The mass–metallicity relation and its observational effects at z ∼ 3–6}},
  doi          = {10.3847/1538-4357/ae7bfc},
  volume       = {1005},
  year         = {2026},
}