SIMBAD references

We show that the inclusion of axion emission during stellar evolution introduces important changes into the evolutionary behaviour of aymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. The mass of the resulting C/O white dwarf (WD) is much lower than the equivalent obtained from standard evolution. This implies a deficit in luminous AGB stars and in massive WDs. Moreover, the total mass processed in the nuclear burning shells that is dredged up to the surface (third D_up) increases when axion emission is included, modifying the chemical composition of the photosphere. We conclude that the AGB is a promising phase with which to put constraints on particle physics.