A new way of defining unstable states

Abstract

We define a new unstable state in the Friedrichs model of a two-level atom. This unstable state is a complex eigenstate of the time evolution operator $\exp (-iHt)$ with a restricted test function space, which is obtained from causality conditions. The unstable state shows exact exponential decay for $t\ge 0$. Its emitted field is confined inside the future light-cone. In this way the long-standing problem of exponential catastrophe is removed. This is an example of quantum mechanics outside Hilbert space, which consists of generalized eigenstates in a distribution space, and a dual (test function) space.

13 pages, 7 figures