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Canonical grids of stellar evolutionary sequences have been computed for the helium mass-fraction abundances $Y = 0.25$, $0.29$, and $0.33$, and for iron abundances that vary from $-2.4$ to $+0.4$ (in 0.2 dex increments) when [$\alpha$/Fe] $= +0.4$, or for the ranges $-2.0 \le$ [Fe/H] $\le +0.6$, $-1.8 \le$ [Fe/H] $\le +0.6$ when [$\alpha$/Fe] $= 0.0$ and $-0.4$, respectively. The grids, which consist of tracks for masses from $0.12 {{\cal M}_\odot}$ to $1.1$-$1.5 {{\cal M}_\odot}$ (depending on the metallicity) are based on up-to-date physics, including the gravitational settling of helium (but not metals diffusion). Interpolation software is provided to generate isochrones for arbitrary ages between $\approx 5$ and $15$ Gyr and any values of $Y$, [$\alpha$/Fe], and [Fe/H] within the aforementioned ranges. Comparisons of isochrones with published color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) for the open clusters M67 ([Fe/H] $\approx 0.0$) and NGC 6791 ([Fe/H] $\approx 0.3$) and for four of the metal-poor globular clusters (47 Tuc, M3, M5, and M92) indicate that the models for the observed metallicities do a reasonably good job of reproducing the locations and slopes of the cluster main sequences and giant branches. The same conclusion is reached from a consideration of plots of nearby subdwarfs that have accurate Hipparcos parallaxes and metallicities in the range $-2.0 \le$ [Fe/H] $\le -1.0$ on various CMDs and on the ($\log T_{\rm eff},\,M_V$)-diagram. A relatively hot temperature scale similar to that derived in recent calibrations of the infrared flux method is favored by both the isochrones and the adopted color transformations, which are based on the latest MARCS model atmospheres., Comment: 55 pages, including 1 table and 18 figures; accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal

Recent work has shown that most globular clusters have at least two chemically distinct components, as well as cluster-to-cluster differences in the mean [O/Fe], [Mg/Fe], and [Si/Fe] ratios at similar [Fe/H] values. In order to investigate the implications of variations in the abundances of these and other metals for H-R diagrams and predicted ages, grids of evolutionary sequences have been computed for scaled solar and enhanced alpha-element mixtures, and for mixtures in which the assumed [m/Fe] value for each of the metals C, N, O, Ne, Na, Mg, Si, S, Ca, and Ti has been increased, in turn, by 0.4 dex at constant [Fe/H]. These tracks, together with isochrones for ages from 6 to 14 Gyr, have been computed for -3.0 < [Fe/H] < -0.6, with helium abundances Y = 0.25, 0.29, and 0.33 at each [Fe/H] value, using upgraded versions of the Victoria stellar structure program and the Regina interpolation code, respectively. Turnoff luminosity versus age relations from isochrones are found to depend almost entirely on the importance of the CNO-cycle, and thereby mainly on the abundance of oxygen. Since C, N, and O, as well as Ne and S, do not contribute significantly to the opacities at low temperatures and densities, variations in their abundances do not impact the Teff scale of red giants. The latter is a strong function of the abundances of only Mg and Si (and Fe, possibly to a lesser extent), because they are so abundant and because they are strong sources of opacity at low temperatures. For these reasons, Mg and Si also have important effects on the temperatures of main-sequence stars. Due to their low abundances, Na, Ca, and Ti are of little consequence for stellar models. The effects of varying the adopted solar metals mix and the helium abundance at a fixed [Fe/H] are also briefly discussed., Comment: 27 pages, 18 figures; accepted and tentatively scheduled for publication in ApJ, volume 755 (Aug 10, 2012 issue)

Seventy-two grids of stellar evolutionary tracks, along with the capability to generate isochrones and luminosity/color functions from them, are presented in this investigation. Sixty of them extend (and encompass) the sets of models reported by VandenBerg et al. (2000, ApJ, 532, 430) for 17 [Fe/H] values from -2.31 to -0.30 and alpha-element abundances corresponding to [alpha/Fe] = 0.0, 0.3, and 0.6 (at each iron abundance) to the solar metallicity and to sufficiently high masses (up to ~2.2 solar masses) that isochrones may be computed for ages as low as 1 Gyr. The remaining grids contain tracks for masses from 0.4 to 4.0 solar masses and 12 [Fe/H] values between -0.60 and +0.49 (assuming solar metal-to-hydrogen number abundance ratios): in this case, isochrones may be calculated down to ~0.2 Gyr. The extent of convective core overshooting has been modelled using a parameterized version of the Roxburgh (1989, A&A, 211, 361) criterion, in which the value of the free parameter at a given mass and its dependence on mass have been determined from analyses of binary star data and observed color-magnitude diagrams for several open clusters. Because the calculations reported herein satisfy many empirical constraints, they should provide useful probes into the properties of both simple and complex stellar populations. [All of the model grids may be obtained from the Canadian Astronomy Data Center (http://www.cadc-ccda.hia-iha.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/cvo/community/VictoriaReginaModels ).], Comment: Accepted for the ApJS (Feb. 2006); 39 pages including 14 figures, 3 tables

An improved algorithm for interpolating isochrones and isochrone population functions (IPFs), based on the scheme introduced by Bergbusch & VandenBerg (1992, APJS, 81, 163), is described. The computer programs (FORTRAN 77) and the grids of evolutionary tracks, for 17 [Fe/H] values between -2.31 and and -0.3, with three choices of [alpha/Fe] (0.0, 0.3, and 0.6) at each iron abundance, are freely available to users interested in producing isochrones and IPFs. We add to the evidence presented in previous papers in this series in support of the Teff and color scales of our models. The temperatures derived by Gratton et al. (1996, A&A, 314, 191) for local Population II subdwarfs with accurate {Hipparcos} parallaxes are in excellent agreement with those predicted for them, when the Gratton et al. [Fe/H] scale is also assumed. The locus defined by local subdwarfs and subgiants on the [M_V, log Teff] plane and the morphologies of globular cluster C-M diagrams are well matched by the present models, despite the neglect of diffusion. The three field halo subgiants in our sample all have ages >15 Gyr, which is also favored for the Galaxy's most metal-poor globular clusters (GCs). Our isochrones accurately reproduce the Da Costa & Armandroff (1990, AJ, 100, 162) red-giant branch fiducials for M15, NGC 6752, NGC 1851, and 47 Tuc on the [M_I, (V-I)_0]-diagram. However, our models fail to predict the observed luminosities of the red-giant bump by ~0.25 mag: this may indicate inward overshooting of convective envelopes in red giants. The Zinn & West (1984, ApJS, 55, 45) metallicities for intermediate metal-poor GCs (-1.8 > [Fe/H] > -1.1) are preferred over recent spectroscopic results, suggesting an inconsistency between current subdwarf and GC [Fe/H] scales., Comment: 44 pages in total, including 7 tables and 12 figures

The first search for the decay K^+ -> pi^+ pi^0 nu nubar has been performed with the E787 detector at BNL. Based on zero events observed in the kinematical search region defined by 90 MeV/c < P_{pi^+} < 188 MeV/c and 135 MeV < E_{pi^0} < 180 MeV, an upper limit B(K^+ -> pi^+ pi^0 nu nubar) < 4.3 x 10^{-5} at 90% confidence level is established., Comment: 10 pages, Latex, 5 figures, to be submitted to Phys. Rev. D