Theory of Decaying States

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Abstract
This paper constructs a special perturbation theory which directly describes the alteration of decaying states by an external perturbation. The complex energies of the decaying states appear in this theory. When lifetime effects are taken into account, we find that the criteria for quantum degeneracy are slightly strengthened and sharpened. We also discuss the smooth merger of the properties of decaying states and those of true eigenstates in the case of long lifetimes.