Quantization Ambiguity and Supersymmetric Ground State Wave Functions

Abstract

Supersymmetric ground state wave functions of a model of supersymmetric quantum mechanics on $S^1$ (supersymmetric simple pendulum) are studied. Supersymmetry can be broken due to the existence of an undetermined parameter, which is interpreted as a gauge field and appears as a firm consequence of quantization on a space with a nontrivial topology such as $S^1$. The breaking does not depend on the leading term of the superpotential, contrary to the usual case. The mechanism of supersymmetry breaking is similar to that through boundary conditions of fields in supersymmetric quantum field theory on compactified space. The supersymmetric harmonic oscillator is realized in the limit of the infinite radius of $S^1$ with the strength of the oscillator being constant.