Analysis of Overlapping Resonances Using the K-Matrix and Breit–Wigner Methods

Abstract

The K-matrix approach is mostly used when analyzing the overlapping resonances. It provides unitarity of the scattering matrix, however, its parameters are not physical quantities; the resonant and background contributions cannot be separated; and the scattering amplitudes have zeros between the positions of resonances. The parameters of the Breit—Wigner (BW) functions are the masses and widths of resonances; however, the sum of such functions violates unitarity. We construct a unitary S-matrix by taking into account the interference of BW functions. In the examples presented in the paper, these two approaches are compared.