Origin of Borromean systems

The complex energies of the three-body resonances for one infinitely heavy particle and two non-interacting light particles are the sum of the two contributing two-body complex resonance energies. The bound state of a Borromean system originates from a resonance when the third interaction is introduced, a finite mass is allowed and proper angular momentum coupling is included. The relative importance of these contributions are investigated and the resulting structure of Borromean systems are traced back to the two-body continuum properties. The $0^+$ and $2^+$ states in $^{6}$He result from neutron-core p-states and the ground and first excited state of $^{11}$Li originate from neutron-core $s^2$ and $sp$-states.