33.

Monte Carlo particle numbering scheme 1

33. MONTE CARLO PARTICLE

NUMBERING SCHEME
Revised April 2002 by L. Garren (Fermilab), I.G. Knowles (Edinburgh U.), T. Sj
ostrand
(Lund U.), and T. Trippe (LBNL).
The Monte Carlo particle numbering scheme presented here is intended to facilitate
interfacing between event generators, detector simulators, and analysis packages used
in particle physics. The numbering scheme was introduced in 1988 [1] and a revised
version [2,3] was adopted in 1998 in order to allow systematic inclusion of quark
model states which are as yet undiscovered and hypothetical particles such as SUSY
particles. The numbering scheme is used in several event generators, e.g. HERWIG and
PYTHIA/JETSET, and in the /HEPEVT/ [4] standard interface.
The general form is a 7digit number:
n nr nL nq1 nq2 nq3 nJ .
This encodes information about the particles spin, flavor content, and internal quantum
numbers. The details are as follows:
1. Particles are given positive numbers, antiparticles negative numbers. The PDG
convention for mesons is used, so that K + and B + are particles.
2. Quarks and leptons are numbered consecutively starting from 1 and 11 respectively; to
do this they are first ordered by family and within families by weak isospin.
3. In composite quark systems (diquarks, mesons, and baryons) nq13 are quark numbers
used to specify the quark content, while the rightmost digit nJ = 2J + 1 gives the
systems spin (except for the KS0 and KL0 ). The scheme does not cover particles of spin
J > 4.
4. Diquarks have 4-digit numbers with nq1 nq2 and nq3 = 0.
5. The numbering of mesons is guided by the nonrelativistic (LS decoupled) quark
model, as listed in Table 13.2.
a. The numbers specifying the mesons quark content conform to the convention
nq1 = 0 and nq2 nq3 . The special case KL0 is the sole exception to this rule.
b. The quark numbers of flavorless, light (u, d, s) mesons are: 11 for the member of
the isotriplet ( 0 , 0 , . . .), 22 for the lighter isosinglet (, , . . .), and 33 for the
heavier isosinglet (0 , , . . .). Since isosinglet mesons are often large mixtures of
uu + dd and ss states, 22 and 33 are assigned by mass and do not necessarily
specify the dominant quark composition.
c. The special numbers 310 and 130 are given to the KS0 and KL0 respectively.
d. The fifth digit nL is reserved to distinguish mesons of the same total (J) but
different spin (S) and orbital (L) angular momentum quantum numbers. For J > 0
the numbers are: (L, S) = (J 1, 1) nL = 0, (J, 0) nL = 1, (J, 1) nL = 2 and
(J + 1, 1) nL = 3. For the exceptional case J = 0 the numbers are (0, 0) nL = 0
and (1, 1) nL = 1 (i.e. nL = L). See Table 33.1.
e. If a set of physical mesons correspond to a (non-negligible) mixture of basis states,
differing in their internal quantum numbers, then the lightest physical state gets
the smallest basis state number. For example the K1 (1270) is numbered 10313
(11 P1 K1B ) and the K1 (1400) is numbered 20313 (13 P1 K1A ).
f. The sixth digit nr is used to label mesons radially excited above the ground state.
g. Numbers have been assigned for complete nr = 0 S- and P -wave multiplets, even
where states remain to be identified.

CITATION: K. Hagiwara et al., Physical Review D66, 010001-1 (2002)

available on the PDG WWW pages (URL:

http://pdg.lbl.gov/)

June 18, 2002

13:58

33. Monte Carlo particle numbering scheme

Table 33.1: Meson numbering logic. Here qq stands for nq2 nq3 .
L = J 1, S = 1

J
0
1
2
3
4

code

00qq3
00qq5
00qq7
00qq9

JPC

1
2++
3
4++

0
1
2
3

L = J, S = 0
code

JPC

00qq1
10qq3
10qq5
10qq7
10qq9

0+
1+
2+
3+
4+

L
0
1
2
3
4

L = J, S = 1
code

20qq3
20qq5
20qq7
20qq9

JPC

1++
2
3++
4

L = J + 1, S = 1
L

1
2
3
4

code

JPC

10qq1
30qq3
30qq5
30qq7
30qq9

0++

1
2
3
4
5

1
2++
3
4++

h. In some instances assignments within the q q meson model are only tentative; here
best guess assignments are made.
i. Many states appearing in the Meson Listings are not yet assigned within the q q
model. Here nq23 and nJ are assigned according to the states likely flavors and
spin; all such unassigned light isoscalar states are given the flavor code 22. Within
these groups nL = 0, 1, 2, . . . is used to distinguish states of increasing mass. These
states are flagged using n = 9. It is to be expected that these numbers will evolve
as the nature of the states are elucidated.
6. The numbering of baryons is again guided by the nonrelativistic quark model, see
Table 13.4.
a. The numbers specifying a baryons quark content are such that in general
nq 1 nq 2 nq 3 .
b. Two states exist for J = 1/2 baryons containing 3 different types of quarks. In the
lighter baryon (, , , . . .) the light quarks are in an antisymmetric (J = 0) state
while for the heavier baryon ( 0 , 0 , 0 , . . .) they are in a symmetric (J = 1) state.
In this situation nq2 and nq3 are reversed for the lighter state, so that the smaller
number corresponds to the lighter baryon.
c. At present most Monte Carlos do not include excited baryons and no systematic
scheme has been developed to denote them, though one is foreseen. In the
meantime, use of the PDG 96 [5] numbers for excited baryons is recommended.
7. The gluon, when considered as a gauge boson, has official number 21. In codes for
glueballs, however, 9 is used to allow a notation in close analogy with that of hadrons.
8. The pomeron and odderon trajectories and a generic reggeon trajectory of states in
QCD are assigned codes 990, 9990, and 110 respectively, where the final 0 indicates the
indeterminate nature of the spin, and the other digits reflect the expected valence
flavor content. We do not attempt a complete classification of all reggeon trajectories,
since there is currently no need to distinguish a specific such trajectory from its
lowest-lying member.
9. Two-digit numbers in the range 2130 are provided for the Standard Model gauge
bosons and Higgs.
10. Codes 81100 are reserved for generator-specific pseudoparticles and concepts.
11. The search for physics beyond the Standard Model is an active area, so these codes are
also standardized as far as possible.
a. A standard fourth generation of fermions is included by analogy with the first
three.
June 18, 2002

13:58

33. Monte Carlo particle numbering scheme 3

b. The graviton and the boson content of a two-Higgs-doublet scenario and of
additional SU(2)U(1) groups are found in the range 3140.
c. One-of-a-kind exotic particles are assigned numbers in the range 4180.
d. Fundamental supersymmetric particles are identified by adding a nonzero n to the
particle number. The superpartner of a boson or a left-handed fermion has n = 1
while the superpartner of a right-handed fermion has n = 2. When mixing occurs,
such as between the winos and charged Higgsinos to give charginos, or between
left and right sfermions, the lighter physical state is given the smaller basis state
number.
e. Technicolor states have n = 3, with technifermions treated like ordinary fermions.
States which are ordinary color singlets have nr = 0. Color octets have nr = 1. If a
state has non-trivial quantum numbers under the topcolor groups SU(3)1 SU(3)2 ,
the quantum numbers are specified by tech,ij, where i and j are 1 or 2. nL is then
2i + j. The coloron, V8 , is a heavy gluon color octet and thus is 3100021.
f. Excited (composite) quarks and leptons are identified by setting n = 4.
12. Occasionally program authors add their own states. To avoid confusion, these should
be flagged by setting nnr = 99.
13. Concerning the non-99 numbers, it may be noted that only quarks, excited quarks,
squarks, and diquarks have nq3 = 0; only diquarks, baryons, and the odderon have
nq1 6= 0; and only mesons, the reggeon, and the pomeron have nq1 = 0 and nq2 6= 0.
Concerning mesons (not antimesons), if nq1 is odd then it labels a quark and an
antiquark if even.
This text and lists of particle numbers can be found on the WWW [6]. The StdHep
Monte Carlo standardization project [7] maintains the list of PDG particle numbers, as
well as numbering schemes from most event generators and software to convert between the
different schemes.

References:
1. G.P. Yost et al., Particle Data Group, Phys. Lett. B204, 1 (1988).
2. I. G. Knowles et al., in Physics at LEP2, CERN 96-01, vol. 2, p. 103.
3. C. Caso et al., Particle Data Group, Eur. Phys. J. C3, 1 (1998).
4. T. Sjostrand et al., in Z physics at LEP1, CERN 89-08, vol. 3, p. 327.
5. R.M. Barnett et al., PDG, Phys. Rev. D54, 1 (1996).
6. http://pdg.lbl.gov/mc particle id contents.html.
7. L. Garren, StdHep, Monte Carlo Standardization at FNAL, Fermilab PM0091 and
StdHep WWW site:
http://www-cpd.fnal.gov/stdhep/.
8. D.E. Groom et al., PDG, Eur. Phys. J. C15, 1 (2000).

33. Monte Carlo particle numbering scheme

QUARKS
d
1
u
2
s
3
c
4
b
5
t
6
7
b0
8
t0
LEPTONS
e
11
12
e

13

14

15

16

0
17
18
0
EXCITED
PARTICLES
d
4000001
4000002
u
4000011
e
4000012
e
GAUGE AND
HIGGS BOSONS
g
(9) 21

22
Z0
23
24
W+
25
h0 /H10
0
0
32
Z /Z2
00
0
33
Z /Z3
34
W 0 /W2+
0
0
35
H /H2
0
0
36
A /H3
+
37
H

DIQUARKS
1103
(dd)1
2101
(ud)0
2103
(ud)1
2203
(uu)1
3101
(sd)0
3103
(sd)1
3201
(su)0
3203
(su)1
3303
(ss)1
4101
(cd)0
4103
(cd)1
4201
(cu)0
4203
(cu)1
4301
(cs)0
4303
(cs)1
4403
(cc)1
5101
(bd)0
5103
(bd)1
5201
(bu)0
5203
(bu)1
5301
(bs)0
5303
(bs)1
5401
(bc)0
5403
(bc)1
5503
(bb)1
TECHNICOLOR
PARTICLES
0
tech
3000111
+
3000211
tech
0
0
3000221
tech
0
tech
3100221
0tech
3000113
3000213
+
tech
0
3000223
tech
3100021
V8
1
tech;22 3060111
8
tech
;22

3160111

tech;11
tech;12
tech;21
tech;22

3130113
3140113
3150113
3160113

SUSY
PARTICLES
1000001
deL
u
eL
1000002
seL
1000003
e
cL
1000004
eb1
1000005a
e
t1
1000006a

eeL
1000011
1000012
eeL

eL
1000013
eL 1000014
1000015a
e1
e L
1000016
e
dR
2000001
u
eR
2000002
seR
2000003
e
cR
2000004
eb2
2000005a
e
t2
2000006a

eeR
2000011

2000013

eR

2000015a
e2
ge
1000021

e01
1000022b

e02
1000023b
+

e1
1000024b
0

e3
1000025b

e04
1000035b

e+
1000037b
2
e
G
1000039
SPECIAL
PARTICLES
G (graviton)
39
0
R
41
42
LQc
reggeon
110
pomeron
990
odderon
9990

for MC internal
use 81100

33. Monte Carlo particle numbering scheme 5

LIGHT I = 1 MESONS
0
111
211
+
9000111
a0 (980)0
9000211
a0 (980)+
0
100111
(1300)
100211
(1300)+
0
10111
a0 (1450)
+
10211
a0 (1450)
200111
(1800)0
200211
(1800)+
0
113
(770)
213
(770)+
0
10113
b1 (1235)
+
10213
b1 (1235)
20113
a1 (1260)0
+
20213
a1 (1260)
0
9000113
1 (1400)
9000213
1 (1400)+
0
100113
(1450)
+
100213
(1450)
9010113
1 (1600)0
9010213
1 (1600)+
0
9020113
a1 (1640)
9020213
a1 (1640)+
0
30113
(1700)
+
30213
(1700)
9030113
(1900)0
(1900)+
9030213
(2150)0
9040113
+
(2150)
9040213
a2 (1320)0
115
+
215
a2 (1320)
10115
2 (1670)0
10215
2 (1670)+
0
100115
a2 (1700)
+
a2 (1700)
100215
2 (2100)0
9000115
2 (2100)+
9000215
0
3 (1690)
117
+
217
3 (1690)
0
9000117
3 (1990)
+
3 (1990)
9000217
3 (2250)0
9010117
3 (2250)+
9010217
0
a4 (2040)
119
+
219
a4 (2040)

LIGHT I = 0 MESONS
(uu, dd, and ss Admixtures)

221
0 (958)
331
9000221
f0 (600)
f0 (980)
9010221
(1295)
100221
10221
f0 (1370)
(1440)
100331
9020221
f0 (1500)
10331
f0 (1710)
(1760)
200221
9030221
f0 (2020)
9040221
f0 (2100)
f0 (2200)
9050221
(2225)
9060221
9070221
f0 (2330)
(782)
223
(1020)
333
10223
h1 (1170)
20223
f1 (1285)
10333
h1 (1380)
20333
f1 (1420)
(1420)
100223
9000223
f1 (1510)
9010223
h1 (1595)
(1650)
30223
(1680)
100333
225
f2 (1270)
9000225
f2 (1430)
0
335
f2 (1525)
9010225
f2 (1565)
9020225
f2 (1640)
10225
2 (1645)
9030225
f2 (1810)
2 (1870)
10335
9040225
f2 (1910)
f2 (1950)
100225
f2 (2010)
100335
9050225
f2 (2150)
f2 (2300)
9060225
f2 (2340)
9070225
3 (1670)
227
337
3 (1850)
229
f4 (2050)
9000339
fJ (2220)
9000229
f4 (2300)

STRANGE
MESONS
KL0
KS0
K0
K+
K0 (1430)0
K0 (1430)+
K(1460)0
K(1460)+
K(1830)0
K(1830)+
K0 (1950)0
K0 (1950)+
K (892)0
K (892)+
K1 (1270)0
K1 (1270)+
K1 (1400)0
K1 (1400)+
K (1410)0
K (1410)+
K1 (1650)0
K1 (1650)+
K (1680)0
K (1680)+
K2 (1430)0
K2 (1430)+
K2 (1580)0
K2 (1580)+
K2 (1770)0
K2 (1770)+
K2 (1820)0
K2 (1820)+
K2 (1980)0
K2 (1980)+
K2 (2250)0
K2 (2250)+
K3 (1780)0
K3 (1780)+
K3 (2320)0
K3 (2320)+
K4 (2045)0
K4 (2045)+
K4 (2500)0
K4 (2500)+

130
310
311
321
10311
10321
100311
100321
200311
200321
9000311
9000321
313
323
10313
10323
20313
20323
100313
100323
9000313
9000323
30313
30323
315
325
9000315
9000325
10315
10325
20315
20325
100315
100325
9010315
9010325
317
327
9010317
9010327
319
329
9000319
9000329

33. Monte Carlo particle numbering scheme

CHARMED
MESONS
411
D+
421
D0
10411
D0+
10421
D00

+
413
D (2010)
423
D (2007)0
+
10413
D1 (2420)
0
10423
D1 (2420)
20413
D1 (H)+
0
20423
D1 (H)

+
415
D2 (2460)
425
D2 (2460)0
+
431
Ds
+
10431
Ds0
+
433
Ds
Ds1 (2536)+ 10433
20433
Ds1 (H)+
+
435
Ds2

BOTTOM
MESONS
B0
511
521
B+
10511
B00
10521
B0+
0
513
B
523
B +
10513
B1 (L)0
10523
B1 (L)+
0
20513
B1 (H)
+
20523
B1 (H)
515
B20
+
525
B2
0
531
Bs
0
10531
Bs0
533
Bs0
0
10533
Bs1 (L)
0
20533
Bs1 (H)
0
535
Bs2
+
541
Bc
+
10541
Bc0
543
Bc+
+
10543
Bc1 (L)
+
20543
Bc1 (H)
+
545
Bc2

cc MESONS
441
c (1S)
10441
c0 (1P )
100441
c (2S)
J/(1S)
443
10443
hc (1P )
20443
c1 (1P )
(2S)
100443
(3770)
30443
(4040)
9000443
(4160)
9010443
(4415)
9020443
445
c2 (1P )
(3836)
9000445

bb MESONS
551
b (1S)
10551
b0 (1P )
100551
b (2S)
110551
b0 (2P )
200551
b (3S)
210551
b0 (3P )
(1S)
553
10553
hb (1P )
20553
b1 (1P )
30553
1 (1D)
(2S)
100553
110553
hb (2P )
120553
b1 (2P )
130553
1 (2D)
(3S)
200553
210553
hb (3P )
220553
b1 (3P )
(4S)
300553
(10860) 9000553
(11020) 9010553
555
b2 (1P )
10555
b2 (1D)
20555
2 (1D)
100555
b2 (2P )
110555
b2 (2D)
120555
2 (2D)
200555
b2 (3P )
557
3 (1D)
100557
3 (2D)

33. Monte Carlo particle numbering scheme 7

LIGHT
BARYONS
p
2212
n
2112
++
2224
2214
+
2114
0
1114

STRANGE
BARYONS

3122
3222
+
3212
0
3112

3224d
+
0

3214d

3114d
0

3322
3312

3324d
0

3314d

3334

CHARMED
BARYONS
+
4122
c
++
4222
c
+
4212
c
4112
c0
++
4224
c
+
4214
c
4114
c0
+
4232
c
0
4132
c
4322
c0+
00
4312
c
4324
c+
0
4314
c
0
4332
c
4334
c0
+
4412
cc
++
4422
cc
+
4414
cc
++
4424
cc
+
4432
cc
+
4434
cc
++
4444
ccc

BOTTOM
BARYONS
5122
0b

5112
b
0
5212
b
+
5222
b

5114
b
5214
b0
+
5224
b

5132
b
0
5232
b
0
5312
b
00
5322
b

5314
b
5324
b0

5332
b

5334
b
0
5142
bc
+
5242
bc
00
5412
bc
0+
5422
bc
0
5414
bc
+
5424
bc
0
5342
bc
00
5432
bc
0
5434
bc
+
5442
bcc
+
5444
bcc

5512
bb
0
5522
bb

5514
bb
0
5524
bb

5532
bb

5534
bb
0
5542
bbc
0
5544
bbc

5554
bbb

33. Monte Carlo particle numbering scheme

Footnotes to the Tables:

) Numbers or names in bold face are new or have changed since the 2000 Review [8].
a) Particulary in the third generation, the left and right sfermion states may mix, as shown.
The lighter mixed state is given the smaller number.
f+, H
e 0, H
e 0 , and H
e + states.
b) The physical
e states are admixtures of the pure
e, Ze0 , W
1
2
c) In this draft we have only provided one generic leptoquark code. More general classifications
according to spin, weak isospin and flavor content would lead to a host of states, that could be
added as the need arises.
d) and are alternate names for (1385) and (1530).