We investigate the angular momentum of mono-abundance populations (MAPs) of the Milky Way thick disk by using a sample of 26,076 giant stars taken from APOGEE Data Release (DR) 17 and Gaia early DR3. The vertical and perpendicular angular momentum components, LZ and LP, of the MAPs in narrow bins have significant variations across the [{alpha}/M]-[M/H] plane. LZ and LP systematically change with [M/H] and [{alpha}/M] and can be alternatively quantified by the chemical gradients: d[M/H]/dLZ=1.2x10^-3^dex/kpc/km.s, d[M/H]/dLP=-5.0x10^-3^dec.kpc^-1^.km^-1^.s, and d[{alpha}/M]/dLZ=-3.0x10^-4^dex.kpc^-1^.km^-1^.s, d[{alpha}/M]/dLP=1.2x10^-3^dec.kpc^-1^.km^-1^.s. These correlations can also be explained as the chemical dependence of the spatial distribution shape of the MAPs. We also exhibit the corresponding age dependence of the angular momentum components. Under the assumption that the guiding radius (Rg) is proportional to LZ, this provides direct observational evidence of the inside-out structure formation scenario of the thick disk, with dRg/dAge=-1.9kpc/Gyr. The progressive changes in the disk thickness can be explained by the upside-down formation or/and the consequent kinematical heating.

Cone search capability for table J/ApJ/950/142/table1 (Parameters for thick-disk stars)