Instanton effects in N = 2 supersymmetric quantum mechanics

Supersymmetric quantum mechanics with several bosonic and fermionic dynamic variables is considered. Two different N = 2 supersymmetric models involving instantons are discussed in detail. Instantons fail to break supersymmetry in one of the models considered. The vacuum state is degenerate in this model which generally results in spontaneous breaking of internal left-right symmetry. In another model supersymmetry is destroyed dynamically due to special complex instanton solutions. Possible implications for SUSY field theories are discussed.