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Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics: The Duality of Two Elementary Models

Atlas Nesimi Çelik

Published Apr 26, 2024• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

This undergraduate thesis contains one dimensional introductory treatment of Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics (SUSY QM). The factorisation method is used to obtain Partner Hamiltonians, and the notions of partner potentials and superpotential are introduced. It demonstrated how energy spectra and eigenfunctions of partner potentials can be correlated for the cases of unbroken and broken supersymmetry. Generalisations of these cases attributed to Sets of Hamiltonians and shape invariant potentials are introduced. The devel oped formalisation is used to obtain energy eigenfunctions and spectra of partner potentials of some well-known quantum systems, namely the Infinite Square Well and the Free Particle. In these systems, the partner potentials are trigonometric and hyperbolic functions, respectively. A comparison of these two physically distinct but mathematically related partner potentials is provided. A new philosophical interpretation of SUSY QM is introduced, with an ontological discussion of supersymmetric notions and SUSY QM. The current observation problem of SUSY is discussed, and on that basis, two opposing arguments are presented. The method of Falsification by Karl Popper is briefly introduced, and an argument is produced regarding its application to SUSY.

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This undergraduate thesis contains one dimensional introductory treatment of Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics (SUSY QM). The factorisation method is used to obtain Partner Hamiltonians, and the notions of partner potentials and superpotential are introduced. It demonstrated how energy spectra and eigenfunctions of partner potentials can be correlated for the cases of unbroken and broken supersymmetry. Generalisations of these cases attributed to Sets of Hamiltonians and shape invariant potentials are introduced. The devel oped formalisation is used to obtain energy eigenfunctions and spectra of partner potentials of some well-known quantum systems, namely the Infinite Square Well and the Free Particle. In these systems, the partner potentials are trigonometric and hyperbolic functions, respectively. A comparison of these two physically distinct but mathematically related partner potentials is provided. A new philosophical interpretation of SUSY QM is introduced, with an ontological discussion of supersymmetric notions and SUSY QM. The current observation problem of SUSY is discussed, and on that basis, two opposing arguments are presented. The method of Falsification by Karl Popper is briefly introduced, and an argument is produced regarding its application to SUSY.
Supersymmetry (SUSY) postulates that for every fermion there is boson of equal mass (i.e. energy). In quantum mechanics this comes about because for every quantum Hamiltonian there is a partner Hamiltonian that has the same energy spectrum above the ground state of the original system. In particle physics, one “sector” is populated by bosons and the other sector by fermions and SUSY predicts that the lowest lying fermion state is energetically degenerate with the first excited boson state. Evidence for SUSY has proven to be elusive and it is now believed that SUSY is a broken symmetry. In January 2009 at a conference dedicated to Bob Wyatt, we began to look at SUSY as a way to develop new computational methods and approaches. Up until now, SUSY has been more of a mathematical technique that has been used more or less as a way to obtain stationary solutions to the Schrödinger equation for a variety of T&F Cat # K11224, Chapter 4, Page 54, 15-9-2010 one-dimensional potential systems. In this chapter, we will discuss some of the work we have been doing in developing “SUSY” inspired methods for performing quantum many-body calculations and quantum scattering calculations. We begin with a brief overview of the SUSY theory and some of its elementary results. We then discuss how we have used the approach to develop both analytical and numerical solutions of the stationary Schrödinger equation. Finally, we conclude by discussing our recent extension of SUSY to higher dimensions and for scattering theory.
Motivated by the duality of normalizable states and the presence of the quasi-parity quantum number q = ± 1 in 𝒫𝒯 symmetric (non-Hermitian) quantum mechanical potential models, the relation of 𝒫𝒯 symmetry and supersymmetry (SUSY) is studied. As an illustrative example, the 𝒫𝒯 invariant version of the Scarf II potential is presented, and it is shown that the ‘bosonic’ Hamiltonian has two different ‘fermionic’ SUSY partner Hamiltonians (potentials) generated from the ground-state solutions with q = 1 and q = −1. It is shown that the ‘fermionic’ potentials cease to be 𝒫𝒯 invariant when the 𝒫𝒯 symmetry of the ‘bosonic’ potential is spontaneously broken. A modified 𝒫𝒯 symmetry inspired SUSY construction is also discussed, in which the SUSY charge operators contain the antilinear operator 𝒯. It is shown that in this scheme the ‘fermionic’ Hamiltonians are just the complex conjugates of the original ‘fermionic’ Hamiltonians, and thus possess the same energy eigenvalues.
In this work we present an introduction to Supersymmetry in the context of 1-dimensional Quantum Mechanics. For that purpose we develop the concept of hamiltonians factorization using the simple harmonic oscillator as an example, we introduce the supersymmetric oscilator and, next, we generalize these concepts to introduce the fundamentals of Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics. We also discuss useful tools to solve problems in Quantum Mechanics which are intrinsecally related to Supersymmetry as hierarchy of hamiltonians and shape invariance. We present two approximation methods which will be specially useful: the well known Variational Method and the Logarithmic Perturbation Theory, the latter being closely related to the concepts of superpotentials and hierarchy of hamiltonians. Finally, we present problems related to superpotentials which are monomials in even powers of the x coordinate multiplied by the sign function epsilon(x), which seems to be a new class of problems in Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics.
We review SUSY in non-relativistic quantum mechanics as a powerful tool for studying one dimensional potentials and discuss some applications. The Dirac operatorial factorization method for the harmonic oscillator in QM is generalized to a broader scope. A Schr¨odinger second order operator can be factorized into two first-order ones by solving a Riccati equation and determining the corresponding superpotential. We apply the technique to square well, P¨oschl-Teller and finite barrier potentials, analyzing the resulting energy spectra and the transmission and reflection coefficients. Both discrete and continuous energy spectrum cases are discussed.
Motivated by the duality of normalizable states and the presence of the quasi-parity quantum number q=+/-1 in PT symmetric (non-Hermitian) quantum mechanical potential models, the relation of PT symmetry and supersymmetry (SUSY) is studied. As an illustrative example the PT invariant version of the Scarf II potential is presented, and it is shown that the "bosonic" Hamiltonian has two different "fermionic" SUSY partner Hamiltonians (potentials) generated from the ground-state solutions with q=1 and q=-1. It is shown that the "fermionic" potentials cease to be PT invariant when the PT symmetry of the "bosonic" potential is spontaneously broken. A modified PT symmetry inspired SUSY construction is also discussed, in which the SUSY charge operators contain the antilinear operator T. It is shown that in this scheme the "fermionic" Hamitonians are just the complex conjugate of the original "fermionic" Hamiltonians, and thus possess the same energy eigenvalues.
The development of supersymmetric (SUSY) quantum mechanics has shown that some of the insights based on the algebraic properties of ladder operators related to the quantum mechanical harmonic oscillator (QMHO) carry over to the study of more general systems. At this level of generality, pairs of eigenfunctions of so-called partner Hamiltonians are transformed into each other, but the entire spectrum of any one of them cannot be deduced from this intertwining relationship in general – except in special cases. In this paper, we present a more general structure that provides all eigenvalues for a class of Hamiltonians that do not factor into a pair of operators satisfying canonical commutation relations. Instead of a pair of partner Hamiltonians, we consider two pairs that differ by an overall shift in their spectrum. This is called coupled supersymmetry. In that case, we also develop coherent states and present some uncertainty principles which generalise the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. Coupled SUSY is explicitly realised by an infinite family of differential operators which admit orthonormal bases of eigenfunctions of generalised harmonic oscillators.