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Particle Construction

ChargedParticles.jl provides multiple ways to construct particles, offering flexibility for different use cases.

String Format

The most common way to create particles is using string format:

using ChargedParticles

# Basic elements
fe = particle("Fe")     # Iron
he = particle("He")     # Helium

# Ions with charge
fe3 = particle("Fe3+")  # Iron(III)
fe2 = particle("Fe2-")  # Iron(-II)

# Isotopes
fe56 = particle("Fe-56")  # Iron-56
u235 = particle("U-235")  # Uranium-235

println("Iron: z = $(atomic_number(fe))")
println("Iron(III): charge = $(charge(fe3))")
println("Iron-56: A = $(mass_number(fe56))")
Iron: z = 26
Iron(III): charge = 4.806529901999999e-19 C
Iron-56: A = 56

String Format Rules

  1. Basic Elements

    • Just the symbol: "Fe", "He", "U"
    • Case sensitive: "Fe" works, "FE" doesn't

  2. Ions

    • Append charge: "Fe3+", "Fe2-"
    • Format: SYMBOL + NUMBER + +/-
    • Examples: "Fe3+", "Cl-", "Ca2+"

  3. Isotopes

    • Format: SYMBOL + - + MASS_NUMBER
    • Examples: "Fe-56", "U-235", "C-14"

  4. Combined Isotopes and Ions

    • Format: SYMBOL + - + MASS_NUMBER + NUMBER + +/-
    • Examples: "Fe-56_3+", "U-235_2+"

Common Particle Aliases

Many common particles have predefined aliases:

using ChargedParticles

# Elementary particles
e = particle("electron")  # or "e-"
p = particle("proton")    # or "p+"
n = particle("neutron")   # or "n"

# Special particles
α = particle("alpha")     # He²⁺
d = particle("deuteron")  # D⁺
t = particle("triton")    # T⁺

println("Electron charge: $(charge(e))")
println("Alpha particle: z = $(atomic_number(α)), A = $(mass_number(α))")
println("Deuteron mass number: $(mass_number(d))")
Electron charge: -1.602176634e-19 C
Alpha particle: z = 2, A = 4
Deuteron mass number: 2

Atomic Number Constructor

You can also create particles using their atomic numbers:

using ChargedParticles

# Basic construction
fe = particle(26)        # Iron
u = particle(92)         # Uranium

# With mass number and charge
fe56_3plus = particle(26, mass_numb=56, z=3)  # Fe-56³⁺
u235_2plus = particle(92, mass_numb=235, z=2)  # U-235²⁺

println("Iron: z = $(atomic_number(fe))")
println("U-235²⁺: z = $(atomic_number(u235_2plus)), A = $(mass_number(u235_2plus))")
Iron: z = 26
U-235²⁺: z = 92, A = 235

Convenience Constructors

The most common particles have dedicated constructors:

using ChargedParticles

# Using convenience constructors
e = electron()
p = proton()

println("Electron mass: $(mass(e))")
println("Proton charge: $(charge(p))")
Electron mass: 9.1093837015e-31 kg
Proton charge: 1.602176634e-19 C

Error Handling

The constructors include error checking:

using ChargedParticles

# These will throw errors
try
    invalid = particle("XX")  # Invalid element symbol
catch e
    println("Error: ", e)
end

try
    invalid = particle(-1)    # Invalid atomic number
catch e
    println("Error: ", e)
end
Error: KeyError(:XX)
Error: KeyError(-1)