The development of the red giant branch. I - Theoretical evolutionary sequences

A grid of 100 evolutionary sequences extending from the zero-age main sequence to the onset of helium burning has been computed for stellar masses between 1.4 and 3.4 solar masses, helium abundances of 0.20 and 0.30, and heavy-element abundances of 0.004, 0.01, and 0.04. Using these computations the transition in the morphology of the red giant branch (RGB) between low-mass stars, which have an extended and luminous first RGB phase prior to helium ignition, and intermediate-mass stars, which do not, is investigated. Extensive tabulations of the numerical results are provided to aid in applying these sequences. The effects of the first dredge-up on the surface helium and CNO abundances of the sequences is discussed.