is_stable

plasmapy.particles.is_stable(particle: plasmapy.particles.particle_class.Particle, mass_numb: Optional[numbers.Integral] = None) → bool

Return True for stable isotopes and particles and False for unstable isotopes.

Parameters

• particle (int, str, or Particle) – A string representing an isotope or particle, or an integer representing an atomic number.

• mass_numb (int, optional) – The mass number of the isotope.

Returns

is_stable – True if the isotope is stable, False if it is unstable.

Return type

bool

Raises

• InvalidIsotopeError – If the arguments correspond to a valid element but not a valid isotope.

• InvalidParticleError – If the arguments do not correspond to a valid particle.

• TypeError – If the argument is not a str or int.

• MissingParticleDataError – If stability information is not available.

Examples

>>> is_stable("H-1")
True
>>> is_stable("tritium")
False
>>> is_stable("e-")
True
>>> is_stable("tau+")
False