The red-giant branch (RGB) in globular clusters is extended to larger brightness if the degenerate helium core loses too much energy in "dark channels." Based on a large set of archival observations, we provide high-precision photometry for the Galactic globular cluster M5 (NGC 5904), allowing for a detailed comparison between the observed tip of the RGB with predictions based on contemporary stellar evolution theory. In particular, we derive 95% confidence limits of g(ae)<4.3×10(-13) on the axion-electron coupling and μ(ν)<4.5×10(-12)μ(B) (Bohr magneton μ(B)=e/2m(e)) on a neutrino dipole moment, based on a detailed analysis of statistical and systematic uncertainties. The cluster distance is the single largest source of uncertainty and can be improved in the future.

We present an abundance analysis of 96 horizontal branch (HB) stars in NGC 2808, a globular cluster exhibiting a complex multiple stellar population pattern. These stars are distributed in different portions of the HB and cover a wide range of temperature. By studying the chemical abundances of this sample, we explore the connection between HB morphology and the chemical enrichment history of multiple stellar populations. For stars lying on the red HB, we use GIRAFFE and UVES spectra to determine Na, Mg, Si, Ca, Sc, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn, Y, Ba, and Nd abundances. For colder, blue HB stars, we derive abundances for Na, primarily from GIRAFFE spectra. We were also able to measure direct NLTE He abundances for a subset of these blue HB stars with temperature higher than ∼9000 K. Our results show that: (i) HB stars in NGC 2808 show different content in Na depending on their position in the color-magnitude diagram, with blue HB stars having higher Na than red HB stars; (ii) the red HB is not consistent with an uniform chemical abundance, with slightly warmer stars exhibiting a statistically significant higher Na content; and (iii) our subsample of blue HB stars with He abundances shows evidence of enhancement with respect to the predicted primordial He content by ∆Y = +0.09 ± 0.01. Our results strongly support theoretical models that predict He enhancement among second generation(s) stars in globular clusters and provide observational constraints on the second-parameter governing HB morphology.

Stellar evolution is modified if energy is lost in a "dark channel" similar to neutrino emission. Comparing modified stellar evolution sequences with observations provides some of the most restrictive limits on axions and other hypothetical low-mass particles and on non-standard neutrino properties. In particular, a putative neutrino magnetic dipole moment µ ν enhances the plasmon decay process, postpones helium ignition in low-mass stars, and therefore extends the red-giant branch (RGB) in globular clusters (GCs). The brightness of the tip of the RGB (TRGB) remains the most sensitive probe for µ ν and we revisit this argument from a modern perspective. Based on a large set of archival observations, we provide high-precision photometry for the Galactic GC M5 (NGC 5904) and carefully determine its TRGB position. On the theoretical side, we add the extra plasmon decay rate brought about by µ ν to the Princeton-Goddard-PUC (PGPUC) stellar evolution code. Different sources of uncertainty are critically examined. The main source of systematic uncertainty is the bolometric correction and the main statistical uncertainty derives from the distance modulus based on main-sequence fitting. (Other measures of distance, e.g., the brightness of RR Lyrae stars, are influenced by the energy loss that we wish to constrain.) The statistical uncertainty of the TRGB position relative to the brightest RGB star is less important because the RGB is well populated. We infer an absolute I-band brightness of M I = −4.17±0.13 mag for the TRGB compared with the theoretical prediction of −3.99 ± 0.07 mag, in reasonable agreement with each other. A significant brightness increase caused by neutrino dipole moments is constrained such that µ ν < 2.6 × 10 −12 µ B (68% CL), where µ B ≡ e/2m e is the Bohr magneton, and µ ν < 4.5 × 10 −12 µ B (95% CL). In these results, statistical and systematic errors have been combined in quadrature.

Aims. Recently, the study of globular cluster (GC) color−magnitude diagrams (CMDs) has shown that some of them harbor multiple populations with different chemical compositions and/or ages. In the first case, the most common candidate is a spread in the initial helium abundance, but this quantity is difficult to determine spectroscopically due to the fact that helium absorption lines are not present in cooler stars, whereas for hotter GC stars gravitational settling of helium becomes important. As a consequence, indirect methods to determine the initial helium abundance among populations are necessary. For that reason, in this series of papers, we investigate the effects of a helium enrichment in populations covering the range of GC metallicities. Methods. In this first paper, we present the theoretical evolutionary tracks, isochrones, and zero-age horizontal branch (ZAHB) loci calculated with the Princeton-Goddard-PUC (PGPUC) stellar evolutionary code, which has been updated with the most recent input physics and compared with other theoretical databases. The chemical composition grid covers 9 metallicities ranging from Z = 1.60 × 10 −4 to 1.57 × 10 −2 (−2.25 < ∼ [Fe/H] < ∼ −0.25), 7 helium abundances from Y = 0.230 to 0.370, and an alpha-element enhancement of [α/Fe] = 0.3. Results. The effects of different helium abundances that can be observed in isochrones are: splits in the main sequence (MS), differences in the luminosity (L) and effective temperature (T eff ) of the turn off point, splits in the sub giant branch being more prominent for lower ages or higher metallicities, splits in the lower red giant branch (RGB) being more prominent for higher ages or higher metallicities, differences in L of the RGB bump (with small changes in T eff ), and differences in L at the RGB tip. At the ZAHB, when Y is increased there is an increase of L for low T eff , which is affected in different degrees depending on the age of the GC being studied. Finally, the ZAHB morphology distribution depending on the age explains how for higher GC metallicities a population with higher helium abundance could be hidden at the red ZAHB locus.