It is proposed to study the salient effects of coupling between discrete and continuous states near various particle emission thresholds using the shell model in the complex energy plane. This model provides the unitary formulation of a standard shell model within the framework of the open quantum system for the description of well bound, weakly bound and unbound nuclear states.
Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of the residual correlation energy of coupling to the states of the continuum for the understanding of eigenstates, their energy and decay modes, in the vicinity of the reaction channels. This residual energy has not yet been studied in detail. The studies of this thesis will deepen our understanding of the structural effects induced by coupling to the continuum and will provide support for experimental studies at GANIL and elsewhere.