Clusters as many-body resonances

A formalism to evaluate the resonant states produced by two particles moving outside a closed shell core is presented. The two-particle states are calculated by using a single-particle representation consisting of bound states, Gamow resonances and scattering states in the complex energy plane (Berggren representation). Two representative cases are analysed corresponding to whether the Fermi level is below or above the continuum threshold. It is found that long-lived resonances are mostly determined by either bound states or by narrow Gamow resonances. However, they are significantly affected by wide resonances and the continuum background itself.