A unified theory of quasibound states

We report a formalism for the study of quasibound states, defined here broadly as those states having a connectedness to true bound states through the variation of some physical parameter. The theory admits quasibound states with real energies (stationary quasibound states) and quantum resonances within the same framework, and makes a clean distinction between these states and those of the associated continuum. The approach taken here builds on our earlier work by clarifying several crucial points and extending the formalism to encompass a variety of continuous spectra, including those with degeneracies. The theory is illustrated by examining several cases pertinent to applications widely discussed in the literature. The related issue of observing stationary quasibound states also is addressed. We argue that the Adiabatic Theorem of quantum mechanics not only establishes the criteria necessary for their detection, but also engenders a method for assigning to them a level width that is sufficiently distinct from that of quantum resonances so as to allow the two to be differentiated experimentally.