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Abstract The goal of this paper is to describe the science verification of Milky Way Mapper (MWM) APOGEE Stellar Parameter and Chemical Abundances Pipeline (ASPCAP) data products published in Data Release 19 (DR19) of the fifth phase of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-V). We compare MWM ASPCAP atmospheric parametersT_eff, logg, 24 abundances of 21 elements (carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen have multiple sources for deriving their abundance values) and their uncertainties determined from Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) spectrograph spectra with those of the literature and evaluate their accuracy and precision. We also test the zero-point calibration of thev_radderived by the APOGEE Data Reduction Pipeline. This data release contains ASPCAP parameters for 964,989 stars, including all APOGEE-2 targets expanded with new observations of 336,511 stars from the Apache Point Observatory observed until 2023 July 4. Overall, the newT_effvalues show excellent agreement with the IRFM scale, while the surface gravities exhibit slight systematic offsets compared to asteroseisimic gravities. The estimated precision ofT_effis between 50 and 70 K for giants and 70–100 K for dwarfs, while surface gravities are measured with a precision of 0.07–0.09 dex for giants. We achieve an estimated precision of 0.02–0.04 dex for multiple elements, including metallicity,α, Mg, and Si, while the precision of at least 10 elements is better than 0.1 dex. 

Stars in an open cluster are assumed to have formed from a broadly homogeneous distribution of gas, implying that they should be chemically homogeneous. Quantifying the level to which open clusters are chemically homogeneous can therefore tell us about ISM pollution and gas-mixing in progenitor molecular clouds. Using SDSS-V Milky Way Mapper and SDSS-IV APOGEE DR17 abundances, we test this assumption by quantifying intrinsic chemical scatter in up to 20 different chemical abundances across 26 Milky Way open clusters. We find that we can place 3σ upper limits on open cluster homogeneity within 0.02 dex or less in the majority of elements, while for neutron capture elements, as well as those elements having weak lines, we place limits on their homogeneity within 0.2 dex. Finally, we find that giant stars in open clusters are ~0.01 dex more homogeneous than a matched sample of field stars. 

Abstract Stars in an open cluster are assumed to have formed from a broadly homogeneous distribution of gas, implying that they should be chemically homogeneous. Quantifying the level to which open clusters are chemically homogeneous can therefore tell us about interstellar medium pollution and gas mixing in progenitor molecular clouds. Using Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)-V Milky Way Mapper and SDSS-IV Apache Point Observatory Galaxy Evolution Experiment DR17 abundances, we test this assumption by quantifying intrinsic chemical scatter in up to 20 different chemical abundances across 26 Milky Way open clusters. We find that we can place 3σupper limits on open cluster homogeneity within 0.02 dex or less in the majority of elements, while for neutron capture elements, as well as those elements having weak lines, we place limits on their homogeneity within 0.2 dex. Finally, we find that giant stars in open clusters are ∼0.01 dex more homogeneous than a matched sample of field stars. 

Abstract In the third APOKASC catalog, we present data for the complete sample of 15,808 evolved stars with APOGEE spectroscopic parameters and Kepler asteroseismology. We used 10 independent asteroseismic analysis techniques and anchor our system on fundamental radii derived from GaiaLand spectroscopicT_eff. We provide evolutionary state, asteroseismic surface gravity, mass, radius, age, and the data used to derive them for 12,418 stars. This includes 10,036 exceptionally precise measurements, with median fractional uncertainties in ${\nu }_{\max }$, Δν, mass, radius, and age of 0.6%, 0.6%, 3.8%, 1.8%, and 11.1%, respectively. We provide more limited data for 1624 additional stars that either have lower-quality data or are outside of our primary calibration domain. Using lower red giant branch (RGB) stars, we find a median age for the chemical thick disk of 9.14 ± 0.05(ran) ± 0.9(sys) Gyr with an age dispersion of 1.1 Gyr, consistent with our error model. We calibrate our red clump (RC) mass loss to derive an age consistent with the lower RGB and provide asymptotic GB and RGB ages for luminous stars. We also find a sharp upper-age boundary in the chemical thin disk. We find that scaling relations are precise and accurate on the lower RGB and RC, but they become more model dependent for more luminous giants and break down at the tip of the RGB. We recommend the use of multiple methods, calibration to a fundamental scale, and the use of stellar models to interpret frequency spacings. 

Abstract Open clusters are key chemical and age tracers of Milky Way evolution. While open clusters provide significant constraints on galaxy evolution, their use has been limited due to discrepancies in measuring abundances from different studies. We analyze medium-resolution (R∼ 19,000) Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory/Hydra spectra of giant stars in 58 open clusters using The Cannon to determine [Fe/H], [Mg/Fe], [Si/Fe], [Al/Fe], and [O/Fe]. This work adds an additional 55 primarily southern hemisphere open clusters calibrated to the Sloan Digital Sky Survey/Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment DR16 metallicity system. This uniform analysis is compared to previous studies [Fe/H] measurements for 23 clusters and we present spectroscopic metallicities for the first time for 35 open clusters. 

ABSTRACT We introduce the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)/ Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) value-added catalogue of Galactic globular cluster (GC) stars. The catalogue is the result of a critical search of the APOGEE Data Release 17 (DR17) catalogue for candidate members of all known Galactic GCs. Candidate members are assigned to various GCs on the basis of position in the sky, proper motion, and radial velocity. The catalogue contains a total of 7737 entries for 6422 unique stars associated with 72 Galactic GCs. Full APOGEE DR17 information is provided, including radial velocities and abundances for up to 20 elements. Membership probabilities estimated on the basis of precision radial velocities are made available. Comparisons with chemical compositions derived from the GALactic Archaeology with HERMES (GALAH) survey, as well as optical values from the literature, show good agreement. This catalogue represents a significant increase in the public data base of GC star chemical compositions and kinematics, providing a massive homogeneous data set that will enable a variety of studies. The catalogue in fits format is available for public download from the SDSS-IV DR17 value-added catalogue website. 

ABSTRACT Stellar radial migration plays an important role in reshaping a galaxy’s structure and the radial distribution of stellar population properties. In this work, we revisit reported observational evidence for radial migration and quantify its strength using the age–[Fe/H] distribution of stars across the Milky Way with APOGEE data. We find a broken age–[Fe/H] relation in the Galactic disc at r > 6 kpc, with a more pronounced break at larger radii. To quantify the strength of radial migration, we assume stars born at each radius have a unique age and metallicity, and then decompose the metallicity distribution function (MDF) of mono-age young populations into different Gaussian components that originated from various birth radii at rbirth < 13 kpc. We find that, at ages of 2 and 3 Gyr, roughly half the stars were formed within 1 kpc of their present radius, and very few stars (<5 per cent) were formed more than 4 kpc away from their present radius. These results suggest limited short-distance radial migration and inefficient long-distance migration in the Milky Way during the last 3 Gyr. In the very outer disc beyond 15 kpc, the observed age–[Fe/H] distribution is consistent with the prediction of pure radial migration from smaller radii, suggesting a migration origin of the very outer disc. We also estimate intrinsic metallicity gradients at ages of 2 and 3 Gyr of −0.061 and −0.063 dex kpc−1, respectively. 

Abstract Large-scale surveys open the possibility to investigate Galactic evolution both chemically and kinematically; however, reliable stellar ages remain a major challenge. Detailed chemical information provided by high-resolution spectroscopic surveys of the stars in clusters can be used as a means to calibrate recently developed chemical tools for age-dating field stars. Using data from the Open Cluster Abundances and Mapping survey, based on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey/Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment 2 survey, we derive a new empirical relationship between open cluster stellar ages and the carbon-to-nitrogen ([C/N]) abundance ratios for evolved stars, primarily those on the red giant branch. With this calibration, [C/N] can be used as a chemical clock for evolved field stars to investigate the formation and evolution of different parts of our Galaxy. We explore how mixing effects at different stellar evolutionary phases, like the red clump, affect the derived calibration. We have established the [C/N]–age calibration for APOGEE Data Release 17 (DR17) giant star abundances to be $\log {\left[\mathrm{Age}\right(\mathrm{yr}\left)\right]}_{\mathrm{DR}17}=10.14(\pm 0.08)+2.23(\pm 0.19)\left[\mathrm{C}/\mathrm{N}\right]$, usable for $8.62\le \log \left(\mathrm{Age}\right[\mathrm{yr}\left]\right)\le 9.82$, derived from a uniform sample of 49 clusters observed as part of APOGEE DR17 applicable primarily to metal-rich, thin- and thick-disk giant stars. This measured [C/N]–age APOGEE DR17 calibration is also shown to be consistent with asteroseismic ages derived from Kepler photometry.