Theory of Sequential Decays

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The theory of sequential decays of an unstable system is studied. Examples include the sequential emission of two or more photons by an excited atom which reaches its ground state via one or more intermediate levels, and the decay of an unstable particle into other unstable particles. To describe these phenomena, a factorization of the Green's function is introduced. This leads to a simple, and intuitively obvious, description of sequential decays. It also makes possible an assessment of the accuracy of this description.