  We propose an analysis technique for the exceptional points (EPs) occurring
in the discrete spectrum of open quantum systems (OQS), using a semi-infinite
chain coupled to an endpoint impurity as a prototype. We outline our method to
locate the EPs in OQS, further obtaining an eigenvalue expansion in the
vicinity of the EPs that gives rise to characteristic exponents. We also report
the precise number of EPs occurring in an OQS with a continuum described by a
quadratic dispersion curve. In particular, the number of EPs occurring in a
bare discrete Hamiltonian of dimension $n_\textrm{D}$ is given by $n_\textrm{D}
(n_\textrm{D} - 1)$; if this discrete Hamiltonian is then coupled to continuum
(or continua) to form an OQS, the interaction with the continuum generally
produces an enlarged discrete solution space that includes a greater number of
EPs, specifically $2^{n_\textrm{C}} (n_\textrm{C} + n_\textrm{D})
[2^{n_\textrm{C}} (n_\textrm{C} + n_\textrm{D}) - 1] $, in which $n_\textrm{C}$
is the number of (non-degenerate) continua to which the discrete sector is
attached. Finally, we offer a heuristic quantum phase transition analogy for
the emergence of the resonance (giving rise to irreversibility via exponential
decay) in which the decay width plays the role of the order parameter; the
associated critical exponent is then determined by the above eigenvalue
expansion.
