Shape Invariant Potentials in Supersymmetric Quantum Cosmology

Abstract

In this brief review, we comment on the concept of shape invariant potentials, which is an essential feature in many settings of $N=2$ supersymmetric quantum mechanics. To motivate its application within supersymmetric quantum cosmology, we present a case study to illustrate the value of this promising tool. Concretely, we take a spatially flat FRW model in the presence of a single scalar field, minimally coupled to gravity. Then, we extract the associated Schr\"odinger-Wheeler-DeWitt equation, allowing for a particular scope of factor ordering. Subsequently, we compute the corresponding supersymmetric partner Hamiltonians, $H_1$ and $H_2$. Moreover, we point out how the shape invariance property can be employed to bring a relation among several factor orderings choices for our Schr\"odinger-Wheeler-DeWitt equation. The ground state is retrieved, and the excited states easily written. Finally, the Hamiltonians, $H_1$ and $H_2$ are explicitly presented within a $N=2$ supersymmetric quantum mechanics framework.