General equation for Zeno-like effects in spontaneous exponential decay

Different perturbation mechanisms of the spontaneous decay constant are sho wn: the inelastic interaction of emitted particles with particle detector, decay onto an unstable level, Rabi transition from the final state of decay (electromagnetic field domination) and some others are really the special kinds of one general effect - the perturbation of the decay constant by dis sipation of the final state of decay. Such phenomena are considered to be Z eno-like effects and the general formula for the perturbed decay constant i s deduced. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.