Supersymmetric Quantum Theory and Differential Geometry

Abstract:

We reconsider differential geometry from the point of view of the quantum theory of non-relativistic spinning particles, which provides examples of supersymmetric quantum mechanics. This enables us to encode geometrical structure in algebraic data consisting of an algebra of functions on a manifold and a family of supersymmetry generators represented on a Hilbert space. We show that known types of differential geometry can be classified in terms of the supersymmetries they exhibit. Our formulation is tailor-made for a generalization to non-commutative geometry, which will be presented in a separate paper.