Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics for String-Bits

Abstract

We develop possible versions of supersymmetric single particle quantum mechanics, with application to superstring-bit models in view. We focus principally on space dimensions $d=1,2,4,8$, the transverse dimensionalities of superstring in $3,4,6,10$ space-time dimensions. These are the cases for which ``classical'' superstring makes sense, and also the values of $d$ for which Hooke's force law is compatible with the simplest superparticle dynamics. The basic question we address is: When is it possible to replace such harmonic force laws with more general ones, including forces which vanish at large distances? This is an important question because forces between string-bits that do not fall off with distance will almost certainly destroy cluster decomposition. We show that the answer is affirmative for $d=1,2$, negative for $d=8$, and so far inconclusive for $d=4$.