The shape resonance (Q1093879)

For a class of Schrödinger operators \(H-h^ 2\Delta +V\) on \(L^ 2({\mathbb{R}}^ n)\), with potentials having minima embedded in the continuum of the spectrum and non-trapping tails, the authors show the existence of shape resonances exponentially close to the real axis as \(h\to 0\). Resonances are defined by exterior complex scaling. The perturbation of introducing a Dirichlet condition on some boundary sphere is estimated via Krein's formula. Application of Brillouin-Wigner perturbation theory then leads to a convergent expansion of the resonance energy exhibiting the expected exponentially small behavior for tunneling.