Bound states in the continuum in open quantum billiards with a variable shape

We show the existence of bound states in the continuum (BICs) in quantum billiards (QBs) that are opened by attaching single-channel leads to them. They may be observed by varying an external parameter continuously, e.g., the shape of the QB. At some values of the parameter, resonance states with vanishing decay width (the BICs) occur. They are localized almost completely in the interior of the closed system. The phenomenon is shown analytically to exist in the simplest case of a two level QB and is complemented by numerical calculations for a real QB.