Metallicity has followed local gravitational potential of galaxies since z=3

Understand

The MZ relation between stellar mass (M*) and metallicity (Z) of nearby galaxies has been described as both a global and local property, i.e.

• valid also on sub-galaxy scales.
• Here we show that Z has remained a local property, following the gravitational potential, since z=3.
• In absorption the MZ relation has been well studied, and was in place already at z=5.1.