Getting Started

Basic Usage

First, import the package:

using ChargedParticles

Creating Particles

There are several ways to create particles:

# Using string format
e = particle("e-")
p = particle("H+")
alpha = particle("He2+")

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

# Using atomic numbers
iron = particle(26)  # Fe
helium = particle(2, mass_numb=4, z=2)  # He⁴²⁺

He²⁺

Accessing Properties

Each particle has several physical properties that can be accessed:

p = proton()

# Get mass
m = mass(p)

# Get charge
q = charge(p)

# Get atomic and mass numbers
z = atomic_number(p)
a = mass_number(p)

println("Proton properties:")
println("Mass: ", m)
println("Charge: ", q)
println("Atomic number: ", z)
println("Mass number: ", a)

Proton properties:
Mass: 1.6726218998953527e-27 kg
Charge: 1.602176634e-19 C
Atomic number: 1
Mass number: 1

Working with Ions

Creating and working with ions is straightforward:

# Create some ions
fe3 = particle("Fe3+")     # Iron(III)
hydride = particle("H-")   # Hydride ion

# Check if particles are ions
println("Is Fe3+ an ion? ", is_ion(fe3))
println("Is H- an ion? ", is_ion(hydride))
println("Is electron an ion? ", is_ion(electron()))

Is Fe3+ an ion? true
Is H- an ion? true
Is electron an ion? false

Working with Isotopes

You can create and work with isotopes using mass numbers:

# Create isotopes
fe56 = particle("Fe-56")
deuteron = particle("D+")
tritium = particle("T")

println("Fe-56 mass number: ", mass_number(fe56))
println("Deuteron mass number: ", mass_number(deuteron))
println("Tritium mass number: ", mass_number(tritium))

Fe-56 mass number: 56
Deuteron mass number: 2
Tritium mass number: 3