Superspace formulation of FRW cosmology

Nephtalı́ Eliceo Martı́nez Pérez

FCFM-BUAP

V Encuentro de Modelado Matemático en Fı́sica y Geometrı́a

October 30, 2020
Outline

Introduction

Supersymmetry

Superspace

Application: SQC

Conclusions
Introduction

RW-geometry:

ds 2 = −N 2 (t)dt 2 + a2 (t) dr 2 + Φ2k (r ) dθ2 + sin2 θdφ2 ,



(1)

where Φk (r ) = sinh r , r , sin r for k = −1, 0, 1 respectively.

FRW action:
ȧ2
Z    
3 1 d ȧ k
S= 2 dt Na3 + 2 2 + 2 + Smatter , (2)
κ Na dt N N a a

Effective one-dimensional system invariant under general time

transformations.
Objective: To construct a supersymmetric extension of (2).
Global supersymmetry1
Graded algebra

[P, Q] = 0 = [P, Q̄],

{Q, Q̄} = 2P, (3)
2 2
Q = 0 = Q̄ .

Q, Q̄ = Q † generate supersymmetry transformations whereas P = −i∂t ,

time translations.
Generic elements of the group can be represented as follows:

G (t, θ, θ̄) = e itP+θQ−θ̄Q̄ . (4)

¯ induces a rigid
Group multiplication by the left with G (t0 , ξ, ξ)
translation in parameter space
¯
t → t + t0 − i(ξ θ̄ + ξθ), (5)
¯
θ → θ + ξ, (θ̄ → θ̄ + ξ). (6)

1
J. Wess and J. Bagger. Supersymmetry and Supergravity. (Princeton
University, 1992).
Flat superspace
Superspace coordinates z = (t, θ, θ̄ = θ∗ )
Superfields Φ(z) have the θ-expansion

Φ(z) = φ(t) + θη(t) − θ̄η̄(t) + θθ̄G (t). (7)

Component fields {φ, η, η̄, G } provide a supermultiplet.

Under a supersymmetry transformation of parameters ξ, ξ¯

δξ Φ(z) = (ξQ − ξ¯Q̄)Φ(z)

= δξ φ(t) + θδξ η(t) − θ̄δξ η̄(t) + θθ̄δξ G (t). (8)

where

Q = ∂θ − i θ̄∂t , Q̄ = ∂θ̄ + iθ∂t , (9)

Supersymmetric covariant derivatives:

D = ∂θ + i θ̄∂t , D̄ = ∂θ̄ − iθ∂t . (10)

Curved superspace
General coordinate transformations,

δz M = ξ M (z) = ξ M (t, θ, θ̄). (11)

World index M = {t, θ, θ̄}, tangent space index A = {τ, Θ, Θ̄}

Vielbein superfields EM A (z): E M → E M EM A = E A .
Inverse vielbein EAM (z): E A → E A EAM = E M .
Torsion superfields:

TNMA = ∂N EMA − (−)mn ∂M ENA (12)

Covariant derivatives DA = EAM ∂M which satisfy (no connection)

[DB , DC ]V = −TBCD DD V . (13)

Transformation law of tensors

δΦ(z) = −ξ M (z)∂M Φ(z) = −ξ A (z)DA Φ(z), (14)

A B
δEM (z) = −ξ (z)TBMA (z) A
− ∂M ξ (z) (15)
Local supersymmetry
Superspace is a mathematical artifact. A lot of degrees of
freedom contained in superfields ξ A (z), EMA (z), TABC (z) are
not physical.
Covariant constraints on the torsion (Bianchi identities, symmetry)

TΘΘ̄τ = TΘ̄Θτ = 2i (16)

Wess-Zumino gauge: Higher components in the θ-expansion of ξ A can

be used to gauge away much of the vielbein components.
 ψ ψ̄

e 2 2
EMA θ=0 = 0

1 0 (17)
0 0 −1

Local supersymmetry transformations are parameterized by

¯ + θ̄ξ(t)),
ξ τ (z) = −2i(θξ(t) ξ Θ (z) = ξ(t). (18)

(Higher components of ξ τ (z) are chosen to preserve the W-Z gauge).

Covariant multiplet and new superspace
Recalling Φ(z) = φ(t) + θη(t) − θ̄η̄(t) + θθ̄G (t) ↔ {φ, η, η̄, G }.
Covariant definition of multiplet:

{φ(t) = Φ(z)|, χ(t) = DΘ Φ(z)|, χ̄(t) = DΘ̄ Φ(z),

B(t) = D[Θ DΘ̄] Φ(z)|} (19)

This suggests a new superfield Ψ(t, Θ, Θ̄) such that

Ψ(t, Θ, Θ̄) = Φ(t) + Θχ(t) − Θ̄χ̄(t) + ΘΘ̄B(t). (20)

Formulation of this new superspace can be done in a manifest covariant

way2 (without W-Z gauge, constraints on the torsion or curvature,
setting θ = 0 only at the end)

Ψ(z, Θ, Θ̄) = e ΘDΘ −Θ̄DΘ̄ Φ(z) (21)

Under local supersymmetry (18)

δξ Ψ(z, Θ, Θ̄) = −ξ A (z)DA e ΘDΘ −Θ̄DΘ̄ Φ(z) (22)

2
C. Ramı́rez, Ann. Phys. (N.Y.) 186, 43 (1988).
New vielbein, covariant derivatives and densities
It turns out that

δξ Ψ(Z ) = −η M̃ (Z )∂M̃ Ψ(Z )

= −η t (Z )∂t Ψ(Z ) − η Θ (Z )∂Θ Ψ(Z ) + η Θ̄ ∂Θ̄ Ψ(Z ). (23)

¯ as well as e, ψ, ψ̄.
with coefficient functions η M̃ depending on ξ(t), ξ(t)
Covariant derivatives are provided by a new vielbein ∇AM̃ (Z )

∇A Ψ(Z ) = ∇A M̃ (Z )∂M̃ Ψ(Z ), (24)

∇A Ψ(z, Θ)|Θ=0 = DA Φ(z). (25)

Performing the computation we find (inverse vielbein)

1 1
 
e + i(Θψ̄ + Θ̄ψ) 2ψ 2 ψ̄
∇M̃A (Z ) =  −i Θ̄ 1 0  (26)
iΘ 0 −1

A scalar density is a superfield, E(Z ), that transforms as

δξ E(Z ) = −∂M̃ (ξ M̃ (−)m E(Z )) (27)

Invariant actions
Products of scalar superfields and densities are also densities.
Z Z  
δξ dtdΘd Θ̄ EL = − dtdΘd Θ̄∂M̃ ξ M̃ (−1)m EL = 0. (28)

Example: E = −e − 2i Θψ̄ − 2i Θ̄ψ=Sdet∇AM̃ .

Finally, supersymmetric FRW-action

A = a + iΘλ̄ + i Θ̄λ + ΘΘ̄B Scale factor superfield (29)

A−1 √
Z  
S = dtdΘd Θ̄EA 3
[∇Θ , ∇Θ̄ ]A − A−2 ∇Θ̄ A∇Θ A − kA−1
2
Z 
→ dt −e −1 aȧ2 + kea + ia(λλ̄˙ + λ̄λ̇) + ie −1 aȧ(ψ λ̄ + ψ̄λ)
√ √

1
+ e −1 aψ ψ̄λλ̄ − keλλ̄ − ka(ψ λ̄ − ψ̄λ) . (30)
2
Supersymmetric quantum cosmology3

H = eH0 + ψS − ψ̄ S̄ ≈ 0, (31)
{S, S̄} ∝ H0 (32)

Physical states are annihilated by H0 , S, S̄:

H0 Ψ(a, λ) = 0, Wheeler-DeWitt equation, (33)

SΨ(a, λ) = 0, S̄Ψ(a, λ) = 0, Supersymmetric constraints. (34)

Example: Free spatially closed FRW (k=1)

2 2
Ψ(a, λ) = c0 a1/4 e −3a + λc1 a1/4 e 3a . (35)

Exponential factors are related to the wormhole and no-boundary

(Hartle-Hawking) states4 .
3
C. Ramı́rez and V. Vázquez-Báez, Physical Review D93 (2016)
4
P. Moniz. Quantum cosmology, the supersymmetric perspective Vol. 1.
(Springer, 2010)
Conclusions

1. Superspace constitutes a powerful technique for the

construction of supersymmetric invariant actions.
2. 1-D supergravity as described here provides a simple and
direct path to supersymmetric quantum cosmology (SQC).
3. SQC based on this formalism allows us to obtain exact
non-trivial solutions of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation.

Thank you!