A Simple Method for Computing Soliton Statistics

I provide an extremely simple argument that the kink-type solitons in certain theories are fermionic. The argument is based on the Witten index, but can in fact be used to determine soliton statistics in non-supersymmetric theories as well.Comment: 9 pages, harvmac, HWS-92/09. (Added substantial details in one section.

Duality, Partial Supersymmetry, and Arithmetic Number Theory

We find examples of duality among quantum theories that are related to arithmetic functions by identifying distinct Hamiltonians that have identical partition functions at suitably related coupling constants or temperatures. We are led to this after first developing the notion of partial supersymmetry-in which some, but not all, of the operators of a theory have superpartners-and using it to construct fermionic and parafermionic thermal partition functions, and to derive some number theoretic identities. In the process, we also find a bosonic analogue of the Witten index, and use this, too, to obtain some number theoretic results related to the Riemann zeta function.Comment: 14 pages, harvmac, no figures; revised to add references, fix typos, add paragraph in Section

N=0 Supersymmetry and the Non-Relativistic Monopole

We study some of the algebraic properties of the non-relativistic monopole. We find that we can construct theories that possess an exotic conserved fermionic charge that squares to the Casimir of the rotation group, yet do not possess an ordinary supersymmetry. This is in contrast to previous known examples with such exotic fermionic charges. We proceed to show that the presence of the exotic fermionic charge in the non-supersymmetric theory can nonetheless be understood using supersymmetric techniques, providing yet another example of the usefulness of supersymmetry in understanding non-supersymmetric theories.Comment: 9 pages, harvmac, no figure

Anyon Statistics and the Witten Index

Using the theory of supersymmetric anyons, I extend the definition of the Witten index to 2+1 dimensions so as to accommodate the existence of anyon spin and statistics. I then demonstrate that, although in general the index receives irrational and complex contributions from anyonic states, the overall index is always integral, and I consider some of the implications and interpretations of this result.Comment: 10 pages, harvmac, no figures; revised to elaborate on two detail

Minimal Length Uncertainty Relations and New Shape Invariant Models

This paper identifies a new class of shape invariant models. These models are based on extensions of conventional quantum mechanics that satisfy a string-motivated minimal length uncertainty relation. An important feature of our construction is the pairing of operators that are not adjoints of each other. The results in this paper thus show the broader applicability of shape invariance to exactly solvable systems.Comment: 11 pages, no figure

Duality and Central Charges 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.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figure, late

Applications of Partial Supersymmetry

I examine quantum mechanical Hamiltonians with partial supersymmetry, and explore two main applications. First, I analyze a theory with a logarithmic spectrum, and show how to use partial supersymmetry to reveal the underlying structure of this theory. This method reveals an intriguing equivalence between two formulations of this theory, one of which is one-dimensional, and the other of which is infinite-dimensional. Second, I demonstrate the use of partial supersymmetry as a tool to obtain the asymptotic energy levels in non-relativistic quantum mechanics in an exceptionally easy way. In the end, I discuss possible extensions of this work, including the possible connections between partial supersymmetry and renormalization group arguments.Comment: 11 pages, harvmac, no figures; typo corrected in identifying info on title pag