def formLCode(L_list):
    """
    get the angular momentum code from the L list
    """
    code = 0
    length = len(L_list)
    for i in range(length):
        n = 1
        if i == 1:
            n = 1000
        elif i == 2:
            n = 1000000
        elif i == 3:
            n = 1000000000
        code = code + n*L_list[i]

    # now return the code
    return code