THE SEGUE STELLAR PARAMETER PIPELINE. II. VALIDATION WITH GALACTIC GLOBULAR AND OPEN CLUSTERS

We validate the accuracy and precision of the current SEGUE (Sloan Extension for Galactic Understanding and Exploration) Stellar Parameter Pipeline (SSPP), which determines stellar atmospheric parameters (effective temperature, surface gravity, and metallicity) and radial velocities (RVs), by comparing these estimates for selected members of three globular clusters (M 13, M15, and M2) and two open clusters (NGC 2420 and M67) to the literature values. Spectroscopic and photometric data obtained during the course of the original Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-I) and its first extension (SDSS-II/SEGUE) are used to determine atmospheric parameter and RV estimates for stars in these clusters. Based on the scatter in the metallicities derived for the members of each cluster, we quantify the typical uncertainty of the SSPP values, sigma([Fe/H]) = 0.13 dex for stars in the range of -0.3 <= g - r <= 1.3 and 2.0 <= log g <= 5.0, at least over the metallicity interval spanned by the clusters studied (- 2.3 <= [Fe/H] <= 0). The surface gravities and effective temperatures derived by the SSPP are also compared with those estimated from the comparison of color-magnitude diagrams with stellar evolution models; we find satisfactory agreement (sigma(T-eff) < 200 K and sigma(log g) <= 0.4 dex).