Spin-1/2 particle and hole as supersymmetry partners

Abstract

Using supersymmetry quantum mechanics, we explain the covariance of the eigenvalue equation for the Jaynes-Cummings (JC) Hamiltonian under the particle-hole transformation. The JC Hamiltonians for the original spin-1/2 ``particle'' and the transformed partner (the ``hole'') are shown to be the fermionic and the bosonic parts of a supersymmetric Hamiltonian. The Hamiltonian, unlike ordinary one-dimensional supersymmetric quantum-mechanical models, can have a degenerate zero-energy ground state despite exact supersymmetry. The degeneracy is shown to arise from the hidden particle-hole exchange symmetry as well as supersymmetry in the Hamiltonian.