Gamow solutions are used to transform self-adjoint energy operators by means of factorization (supersymmetric) techniques. The transformed non-hermitian operators admit a discrete real spectrum which is occasionally extended by a single complex eigenvalue associated to normalized eigensolutions. These new Hamiltonians are not pseudo-hermitian operators and also differ from those obtained by means of complex-scaling transformations. As an example, Coulomb-like potentials are studied.
We present a pedagogical description of the inversion of Gamow's tunnelling formula and we compare it with the corresponding classical problem. We also discuss the issue of uniqueness in the solution and the result is compared with that obtained by the method of Gel'fand and Levitan. We hope that the article will be a valuable source to students who have studied classical mechanics and have some familiarity with quantum mechanics.
Quantum mechanics in the Rigged Hilbert Space formulation describes quasistationary phenomena mathematically rigorously in terms of Gamow vectors. We show that these vectors exhibit microphysical irreversibility, related to an intrinsic quantum mechanical arrow of time, which states that preparation of a state has to precede the registration of an observable in this state. Moreover, the Rigged Hilbert Space formalism allows the derivation of an exact golden rule describing the transition of a pure Gamow state into a mixture of interaction-free decay products.
We introduce a `proper time' formalism to study the instability of the vacuum in a uniform external electric field due to particle production. This formalism allows us to reduce a quantum field theoretical problem to a quantum-mechanical one in a higher dimension. The instability results from the inverted oscillator structure which appears in the Hamiltonian. We show that the `proper time' unitary evolution splits into two semigroups. The semigroup associated with decaying Gamov vectors is related to the Feynman boundary conditions for the Green functions and the semigroup associated with grow…
Complex potentials are constructed as Darboux-deformations of short range, radial nonsingular potentials. They behave as optical devices which both refracts and absorbs light waves. The deformation preserves the initial spectrum of energies and it is implemented by means of a Gamow-Siegert function (resonance state). As straightforward example, the method is applied to the radial square well. Analytical derivations of the involved resonances show that they are `quantized' while the corresponding wave-functions are shown to behave as bounded states under the broken of parity symmetry of the rel…
Gamow vectors have been developed in order to give a mathematical description for quantum decay phenomena. Mainly, they have been applied to radioactive phenomena, scattering and to some decoherence models. They play a crucial role in the description of quantum irreversible processes, and in the formulation of time asymmetry in quantum mechanics. In this paper, we use this formalism to describe a well-known phenomenon of irreversibility: the Loschmidt echo. The standard approach considers that the irreversibility of this phenomenon is the result of an additional term in the backward Hamiltonia…
I show that the method of finding if the ground state energy is nonzero or not by saturating the functional integral directly with instanton-anti-instanton type fluctuations is not reliable either for the double or for the triple well potential models in supersymmetric quantum mechanics.
We identify a class of point-particle models that exhibit a target-space duality. This duality arises from a construction based on supersymmetric quantum mechanics with a non-vanishing central charge. Motivated by analogies to string theory, we are led to speculate regarding mechanisms for restricting the background geometry.
We show that the formalism of supersymmetric quantum mechanics applied to the solvable elliptic function potentials $V(x) = mj(j+1){sn}^2(x,m)$ produces new exactly solvable one-dimensional periodic potentials.
The Schrödinger equation is shown to be equivalent to a constrained Liouville equation under the assumption that phase space is extended to Grassmann algebra valued variables. For onedimensional systems, the underlying Hamiltonian dynamics has a N=2 supersymmetry. Potential applications to more realistic theories are briefly discussed.
Many useful concepts for a quantum theory of scattering and decay (like Lippmann-Schwinger kets, purely outgoing boundary conditions, exponentially decaying Gamow vectors, causality) are not well defined in the mathematical frame set by the conventional (Hilbert space) axioms of quantum mechanics. Using the Lippmann-Schwinger equations as the takeoff point and aiming for a theory that unites resonances and decay, we conjecture a new axiom for quantum mechanics that distinguishes mathematically between prepared states and detected observables. Suggested by the two signs $\pm iε$ of the Lippmann…
Using the formalism of extended $N=4$ supersymmetric quantum mechanics we consider the procedure of the construction of multi--well potentials. We demostrate the form--invariance of Hamiltonians entering the supermultiplet, using the presented relation for integrals, which contain fundamental solutions. The possibility of partial $N=4$ supersymmetry breaking is determined. We also obtain exact forms of multi--well potentials, both symmetric and asymmetric, using the Hamiltonian of harmonic oscillator as initial. The modification of the shape of potentials due to variation of parameters is also…
The time reversal and irreversibility in conventional quantum mechanics are compared with those of the rigged Hilbert space quantum mechanics. We discuss the time evolution of Gamow and Gamow-Jordan vectors and show that the rigged Hilbert space case admits a new kind of irreversibility which does not appear in the conventional case. The origin of this irreversibility can be traced back to different initial-boundary conditions for the states and observables. It is shown that this irreversibility does not contradict the experimentally tested consequences of the time-reversal invariance of the c…
Deforming the algebraic structure of geometric algebra on the phase space with a Moyal product leads naturally to supersymmetric quantum mechanics in the star product formalism.
In this paper we show that the energy eigenstates of supersymmetric quantum mechanics (SUSYQM) with non definite "fermion" number are entangled states. They are "physical states" of the model provided that observables with odd number of spin variables are allowed in the theory like it happens in the Jaynes-Cummings model. Those states generalize the so called "spin spring" states of the Jaynes-Cummings model which have played an important role in the study of entanglement.
A recent development of the studies on classical and quasi-classical properties of supersymmetric quantum mechanics in Witten's version is reviewed. First, classical mechanics of a supersymmetric system is considered. Solutions of the classical equations of motion are given and their properties are discussed in some detail. The corresponding quantum model is constructed by canonical quantization. The quantum model is analyzed by Feynman's path integral within a stationary-phase approximation. A quasi-classical quantization rule is derived, which is applicable when supersymmetry is exact or spo…
We review the construction of minimally bosonized supersymmetric quantum mechanics and its relation to hidden supersymmetries in pure parabosonic (parafermionic) systems.
After recalling different formulations of the definition of supersymmetric quantum mechanics given in the literature, we discuss the relationships between them in order to provide an answer to the question raised in the title.
We consider the Dirac equation in 1+1 space-time dimension with vector, scalar and pseudo-scalar coupling. In the traditional spin (or pseudo-spin) symmetry, the difference between (or sum of) the scalar and vector potentials is a constant. Here, however, we introduce an alternative symmetry where the scalar or pseudo-scalar potential is proportional to the vector potential. This leads to a model with significant extensions to supersymmetric quantum mechanics. We present a formal solution of the problem but give explicit analytic results for specific examples.
The Rigged Hilbert Space (RHS) theory of resonance scattering and decay is reviewed and contrasted with the standard Hilbert space (HS) theory of quantum mechanics. The main difference is in the choice of boundary conditions. Whereas the conventional theory allows for the in-states $ϕ^+$ and the out-states (observables) $ψ^-$ of the S-matrix elements $(ψ^-,ϕ^+)=(ψ^{out},S ϕ^{in})$ any elements of the HS $\H$, $\{ψ^-\}=\{ϕ^+\}(=\H)$, the RHS theory chooses the boundary conditions~: $ϕ^+\inΦ_-\subset\H\subsetΦ_-^\times$, $ψ^-\inΦ_+\subset \H\subset Φ_+^\times$, where $Φ_-$ ($Φ_+$) are Hardy clas…
We study supersymmetric quantum mechanics with the functional RG formulated in terms of an exact and manifestly off-shell supersymmetric flow equation for the effective action. We solve the flow equation nonperturbatively in a systematic super-covariant derivative expansion and concentrate on systems with unbroken supersymmetry. Already at next-to-leading order, the energy of the first excited state for convex potentials is accurately determined within a 1% error for a wide range of couplings including deeply nonperturbative regimes.
Supersymmetry applied to quantum mechanics has given new insights in various topics of theoretical physics like analytically solvable potentials, WKB approximation or KdV solitons. Duality plays a central role in many supersymmetric theories such as Yang-Mills theories or strings models. We investigate the possible existence of some duality within supersymmetric quantum mechanics.
The confluent second-order supersymmetric quantum mechanics, for which the factorization energies tend to a single value, is studied. We show that the Wronskian formula remains valid if generalized eigenfunctions are taken as seed solutions. The confluent algorithm is used to generate SUSY partners of the Coulomb potential.
The confluent second-order supersymmetric quantum mechanics, in which the factorization energies tend to a common value, is used to generate Hamiltonians with known spectra departing from the hyperbolic Rosen-Morse and Eckart potentials. The possible spectral modifications, as to create a new level or to delete a given one, as well as the isospectral transformations, are discussed.
We consider supersymmetric quantum mechanical models with both local and nonlocal potentials. We present a nonlocal deformation of exactly solvable local models. Its energy eigenfunctions and eigenvalues are determined exactly. We observe that both our model Hamiltonian and its supersymmetric partner may have normalizable zero-energy ground states, in contrast to local models with nonperiodic or periodic potentials.
In this project, we will develop the foundations of quantum mechanics using the methods of supersymmetry. We will discuss the use of the superpotential to derive the supersymmetric partner of a potential in one dimension, and explore several key examples with an emphasis on shape invariant potentials. We will then discuss the modeling of supersymmetric quantum systems using matrices and operators, and how it relates to the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis.
The confluent algorithm, a degenerate case of the second order supersymmetric quantum mechanics, is studied. It is shown that the transformation function must asymptotically vanish to induce non-singular final potentials. The technique can be used to create a single level above the initial ground state energy. The method is applied to the free particle, one-soliton well and harmonic oscillator.
The hyperconfluent third-order supersymmetric quantum mechanics, in which all the factorization energies tend to a common value, is analyzed. It will be shown that the final potential as well can be achieved by applying consecutively a confluent second-order and a first-order SUSY transformations, both with the same factorization energy. The technique will be applied to the free particle and the Coulomb potential.
It is shown that the Hamilton equations in supersymmetric quantum mechanics can be presented in nonassociative form, where the Hamiltonian is decomposed into two nonassociative factors.
A quantum mechanical model that realizes the $ \mathbb{Z}_2 \times \mathbb{Z}_2$-graded generalization of the one-dimensional supertranslation algebra is proposed. This model shares some features with the well-known Witten model and is related to parasupersymmetric quantum mechanics, though the model is not directly equivalent to either of these. The purpose of this paper is to show that novel "higher gradings" are possible in the context of non-relativistic quantum mechanics.
C$_λ$-extended oscillator algebras, where C$_λ$ is the cyclic group of order $λ$, are introduced and realized as generalized deformed oscillator algebras. For $λ=2$, they reduce to the well-known Calogero-Vasiliev algebra. For higher $λ$ values, they are shown to provide in their bosonic Fock space representation some interesting applications to supersymmetric quantum mechanics and some variants thereof: an algebraic realization of supersymmetric quantum mechanics for cyclic shape invariant potentials of period $λ$, a bosonization of parasupersymmetric quantum mechanics of order $p = λ-1$, and…
A supersymmetric technique for the solution of the effective mass Schrö% dinger equation is proposed. Exact solutions of the Schroedinger equation corresponding to a number of potentials are obtained. The potentials are fully isospectral with the original potentials. The conditions for the shape invariance of the potentials are discussed.
The superalgebra of $\Z_2^2$-graded supersymmetric quantum mechanics is shown to be realizable in terms of a single bosonic degree of freedom. Such an approach is directly inspired by a description of the corresponding $\Z_2$-graded superalgebra in the framework of a Calogero-Vasiliev algebra or, more generally, of a generalized deformed oscillator algebra. In the case of the $\Z_2^2$-graded superalgebra, the central element $Z$ has the property of distinguishing between degenerate eigenstates of the Hamiltonian.
This paper is concerned with the connection between density matrix method, supersymmetric quantum mechanics and Lewis-Riesenfeld invariant theory. It is shown that these three formulations share the common mathematical structure: specifically, all of them have the invariant operators which satisfies the Liouville-Von Neumann equation and the solutions to the time-dependent Schrödinger equation and/or Schrödinger eigenvalue equation can be constructed in terms of the eigenstates of the invariants.
Intrinsic microphysical irreversibility is the time asymmetry observed in exponentially decaying states. It is described by the semigroup generated by the Hamiltonian $\QTR{it}{H}$ of the quantum physical system, not by the semigroup generated by a Liouvillian $\QTR{it}{L}$ which describes the irreversibility due to the influence of an external reservoir or measurement apparatus. The semigroup time evolution generated by $\QTR{it}{H}$ is impossible in the Hilbert Space (HS) theory, which allows only time symmetric boundary conditions and an unitary group time evolution. This leads to problems …
We review the higher-order supersymmetric quantum mechanics (H-SUSY QM), which involves differential intertwining operators of order greater than one. The iterations of first-order SUSY transformations are used to derive in a simple way the higher-order case. The second order technique is addressed directly, and through this approach unexpected possibilities for designing spectra are uncovered. The formalism is applied to the harmonic oscillator: the corresponding H-SUSY partner Hamiltonians are ruled by polynomial Heisenberg algebras which allow a straight construction of the coherent states.
This paper constitutes a review on N=2 fractional supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics of order k. The presentation is based on the introduction of a generalized Weyl-Heisenberg algebra W_k. It is shown how a general Hamiltonian can be associated with the algebra W_k. This general Hamiltonian covers various supersymmetrical versions of dynamical systems (Morse system, Poschl-Teller system, fractional supersymmetric oscillator of order k, etc.). The case of ordinary supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics corresponds to k=2. A connection between fractional supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics and ordinary sup…
We consider the descendants of self-adjointly extended Hamiltonians in supersymmetric quantum mechanics on a half-line, on an interval, and on a punctured line or interval. While there is a 4-parameter family of self-adjointly extended Hamiltonians on a punctured line, only a 3-parameter sub-family has supersymmetric descendants that are themselves self-adjoint. We also address the self-adjointness of an operator related to the supercharge, and point out that only a sub-class of its most general self-adjoint extensions is physical. Besides a general characterization of self-adjoint extensions …
We investigate the sine-square deformation (SSD) of free fermions in one-dimensional continuous space. On the basis of supersymmetric quantum mechanics, we prove the correspondence between the many-body ground state of the system with SSD and that of the uniform system with periodic boundary conditions. We also discuss the connection between the SSD in the continuous space and its lattice version, where the geometric correction due to the real-space deformation plays an important role in relating the eigenstates of the lattice SSD with those of the continuous SSD.
The Hamiltonian for a fractional supersymmetric oscillator is derived from three approaches. The first one is based on a decomposition in which a Q-uon gives rise to an ordinary boson and a k-fermion (a k-fermion being an object interpolating between boson and fermion). The second one starts from a generalized Weyl-Heisenberg algebra. Finally, the third one relies on the quantum algebra Uq(sl(2)) where q is a root of unity.
Two complementary approaches of N = 2 fractional supersymmetric quantum mechanics of order k are studied in this article. The first one, based on a generalized Weyl-Heisenberg algebra W(k) (that comprizes the affine quantum algebra Uq(sl(2)) with q to k = 1 as a special case), apparently contains solely one bosonic degree of freedom. The second one uses generalized bosonic and k-fermionic degrees of freedom. As an illustration, a particular emphasis is put on the fractional supersymmetric oscillator of order k.
It is an interesting and open problem to trace the origin of the pseudospin symmetry in nuclear single-particle spectra and its symmetry breaking mechanism in actual nuclei. In this report, we mainly focus on our recent progress on this topic by combining the similarity renormalization group technique, supersymmetric quantum mechanics, and perturbation theory. We found that it is a promising direction to understand the pseudospin symmetry in a quantitative way.
Liénard-type nonlinear one-dimensional oscillator is quantized using van Roos symmetric ordering recipe for the kinetic-like part of the new derived Hamiltonian. The corresponding Schrödinger equation is exactly solved in momuntum space via the approach of supersymmetric quantum mechanics (SUSYQM). The bound-states energy spectra and corresponding wave functions are given explicitly in terms of the ambiguity parameters. The limiting case of no deformation agrees exactly with the eigenenergies and eigenfunctions of the ordinary quantum harmonic oscillator.
We study entanglement of spin degrees of freedom with continuous one in supersymmetric (SUSY) quantum mechanics. Concurrence is determined by mean value of spin and is calculated explicitly for SUSY states. We show that eigenstates of supercharges are maximally entangled. As an example the entanglement of atom state with photon state and SUSY in Jaynes-Cummings model are considered.
A recursive form of arbitrary-order Wronskian associated with transformation functions in the confluent algorithm of supersymmetric quantum mechanics (SUSY) is constructed. With this recursive form regularity conditions for the generated potentials can be analyzed. Moreover, as byproducts we obtain new representations of solutions to Schrödinger equations that underwent a confluent SUSY-transformation.
A supersymmetric relativistic quantum theory in the temporal domain is developed for bi-spinor fields satisfying the Dirac equation. The simplest time-domain supersymmetric theory can be postulated for fields with time-dependent mass, showing an equivalence with the bosonic supersymmetric theory in time-domain. Solutions are presented and they are used to produce probability oscillations between mass states. As an application of this idea, we study the two-neutrino oscillation problem, showing that flavour state oscillations may emerge from the supersymmetry originated by the time-dependence o…
Fractional supersymmetric quantum mechanics of order $λ$ is realized in terms of the generators of a generalized deformed oscillator algebra and a Z$_λ$-grading structure is imposed on the Fock space of the latter. This realization is shown to be fully reducible with the irreducible components providing $λ$ sets of minimally bosonized operators corresponding to both unbroken and broken cases. It also furnishes some examples of Z$_λ$-graded uniform topological symmetry of type (1, 1, ..., 1) with topological invariants generalizing the Witten index.
We present the general ideas on SuperSymmetric Quantum Mechanics (SUSY-QM) using different representations for the operators in question, which are defined by the corresponding bosonic Hamiltonian as part of SUSY Hamiltonian and its supercharges, which are defined as matrix or differential operators. We show that, although most of the SUSY partners of one-dimensional Schrödinger problems have already been found,there are still some unveiled aspects of the factorization procedure which may lead to richer insights of the problem involved.
In this work, supersymmetric quantum mechanics will be used to obtain complex solutions to Painleve IV equation with real parameters. We will also focus on the properties of the associated Hamiltonians, i.e. the algebraic structure, the eigenfunctions and the energy spectra.
The upside-down simple harmonic oscillator system is studied in the contexts of quantum mechanics and classical statistical mechanics. It is shown that in order to study in a simple manner the creation and decay of a physical system by ways of Gamow vectors we must formulate the theory in a time-asymmetric fashion, namely using two different rigged Hilbert spaces to describe states evolving towards the past and the future. The spaces defined in the contexts of quantum and classical statistical mechanics are shown to be directly related by the Wigner function.
Two different approaches are formulated to analyze two-dimensional quantum models which are not amenable to standard separation of variables. Both methods are essentially based on supersymmetrical second order intertwining relations and shape invariance - two main ingredients of the supersymmetrical quantum mechanics. The first method explores the opportunity to separate variables in the supercharge, and it allows to find a part of spectrum of the Schrödinger Hamiltonian. The second method works when the standard separation of variables procedure can be applied for one of the partner Hamiltoni…
Supersymmetric quantum mechanics is constructed in a new non-Hermitian representation. Firstly, the map between the partner operators $H^{(\pm)}$ is chosen antilinear. Secondly, both these components of a super-Hamiltonian ${\cal H}$ are defined along certain topologically nontrivial complex curves $r^{(\pm)}(x)$ which spread over several Riemann sheets of the wave function. The non-uniqueness of our choice of the map ${\cal T}$ between "tobogganic" partner curves $r^{(+)}(x)$ and $r^{(-)}(x)$ is emphasized.
We consider the Schwinger's method of angular momentum addition using the SU(2) algebra with both a fermionic and a bosonic oscillator. We show that the total spin states obtained are: one boson singlet state and an arbitrary number of spin-1/2 states, the later ones are energy degenerate. It means that we have in this case supersymmetric quantum mechanics and also the addition of angular momentum for massless particles. We review too the cases of two bosonic and fermionic oscillators.
A supersymmetric generalization of the Lieb-Liniger-Yang dynamics governing $N$ massive bosons moving on a line with delta interactions among them at coinciding points is developed. The analysis of the delicate balance between integrability and supersymmetry, starting from the exactly solvable non supersymmetric LLY system, is one of the paper main concerns. Two extreme regimes of the $N$ parameter are explored: 1) For few bosons we fall in the realm of supersymmetric quantum mechanics with a short number of degrees of freedom, e.g., the SUSY P$\ddot{\rm o}$sch-Teller potentials if $N=1$. 2) F…
$C_λ$-extended oscillator algebras are realized as generalized deformed oscillator algebras. For $λ= 3$, the spectrum of the corresponding bosonic oscillator Hamiltonian is shown to strongly depend on the algebra parameters. A connection with cyclic shape invariant potentials is noted. A bosonization of PSSQM of order two is obtained.
We show that the supersymmetric algebra of Witten's quantum mechanics is invariant under a given point canonical transformation. It is shown that Witten's supersymmetric quantum mechanics can be isospectral or not to the seed Hamiltonian depending on the space coordinate you work on. We illustrate our results by generating a new class of exactly solvable supersymmetric partner Hamiltonians which are not isospectral to the seed Hamiltonian.
