Stochastic field theory at finite temperature, supersymmetry, and Witten index

Finite temperature supersymmetry is studied here from the point of view of stochastic field theory and the formalism of thermofield dynamics. It is shown that the Witten index can take only the values 1 and 1/2 in this formalism. It is pointed out that when at a critical temperature T/sub c/, below which supersymmetry is spontaneously broken, the zero energy mode is given by a thermal doublet of opposite statistics when the index is 1. However, when the index is 1/2, the zero energy mode is given by a thermal doublet of the same fermionic statistics. copyright 1987 Academic Press, Inc