Model-Independent Constraints on Redshift Residual Scaling from JWST JADES

We perform a strictly model independent observational analysis of the redshift distance relation using spectroscopic galaxy data from the JWST JADES survey. The objective is to test whether the accumulated redshift along the line of sight exhibits a linear dependence on observational distance proxies or whether the data support a nonlinear response regime at high redshift. The analysis is conducted without assuming a specific cosmological model, expansion history, dark energy parametrization or spacetime metric. Distances are constructed from directly observed rest frame ultraviolet properties and the redshift behavior is examined through binning in redshift and distance combined with statistical consistency tests. All results are evaluated solely at the level of observable quantities. We find that beyond an intermediate redshift range the incremental growth of redshift with increasing distance becomes progressively attenuated. This deviation from linearity is statistically robust persists under alternative binning strategies and cannot be attributed to selection effects or observational biases within the sample. The observed behavior indicates the presence of a saturation like regime in the redshift distance relation characterized by a decreasing sensitivity of redshift to additional path length at large distances. This effect emerges directly from the data and does not rely on assumptions about the underlying dynamics or energy content of the Universe. Our results establish an empirical constraint on the redshift accumulation process that must be accounted for by any theoretical description of cosmic expansion or photon propagation at high redshift. The full set of measurements and validation tests is provided in the Supplementary Material.