general-comments-ordering

name	general-comments-ordering
description	Organizes general comment sections in Adopted Dataset ENSDF files in the canonical sequence: Isotope Discovery, Production, Decay Measurements, Radius, Mass, Theoretical Calculations. Use when adding or reorganizing general comments at the beginning of an Adopted dataset file.

Adopted Dataset Comments Ordering

ENSDF 80-column data record and field definitions, structural rules, column positions, and uncertainty notation: .github/agents/ENSDF-Agent.agent.md. Spot-check policy: .github/copilot-instructions.md.

Canonical Sequence

Arrange general comments (non-record-specific) at the top of the Adopted Dataset file after Q-value comments and before any record-specific general comments. Follow this order:

1. Isotope Discovery — experimental details, discovery references
2. Production — methods and reaction studies
3. Decay Measurements — half-life, decay modes, branching ratios
4. Radius Measurement — nuclear radius determinations
5. Mass Measurements — mass spectrometry, Q-values, binding energy
6. Theoretical Calculations — nuclear models, predictions (always last)

Rationale: Empirical observations first (discovery → production → decay), then structural measurements (radius/mass), then theory. Readers encounter data before interpretation.

Within each section: Group comments by NSR reference (Reverse-chronological order by key number).

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