Selective suppression of eigenstates with an absorptive delta potential in one and three dimensional potential scattering

We demonstrate that the manifestation of a subset of the resonances generated by twin symmetric delta potential barrier in one dimension can be effectively suppressed by introducing an absorptive delta potential in between keeping the rest of resonance structure practically unaffected. Similar results are also valid in s–wave scattering. An explanation of this feature is provided. •The feature that we study is the effect of presence of absorptive delta potential introduced in between on the resonance structure of the reflection or transmission co-efficient across a twin symmetric barrier in one-dimension and similar results in s-wave scattering.•The twin symmetric delta potentials in onedimensional transmission generate set of sharp resonant states.•However, when a highly absorptive delta function potential is placed midway between the twin delta potentials, the number of sharp resonances is drastically reduced by a factor of 2.•The remaining unaffected resonances correspond to the antisymmetric resonance states of the twin symmetric barrier.•The origin of this phenomenon is explained mathematically using the study of one-dimensional box problem having a highly absorptive delta potential embedded in between.•This feature of selective suppression of resonances is also demonstrated in the s-wave scattering by the delta function potential.•This method of manipulation of resonances can be used even in the case of resonances generated by other potentials.