The manifestation of exceptional points in the scattering continuum of an atomic nucleus is studied using the real-energy continuum shell model. It is shown that low-energy exceptional points appear for realistic values of coupling to the continuum and, hence, could be accessible experimentally. Experimental signatures are proposed which include the jump by $2\pi$ of the elastic scattering phase shift and a salient energy dependence of cross sections in the vicinity of the exceptional point.

• Received 9 June 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.80.034619