Universal Ladder Structure Across Scales: From Quantum to Black Hole Physics

Abstract: Second-order ordinary linear differential equations appear ubiquitously across physics, describing the behavior of systems from the quantum world of atoms to the classical world of gravitating bodies. We present a unified symmetry-based framework that provides a ``litmus-test criterion'' to determine when such a system admits a hierarchical ladder structure, and, whenever it does, explicitly constructs the ladder. This approach uncovers a previously underappreciated connection to supersymmetric quantum mechanics and a deep commonality among diverse physical problems. Applications to the quantum harmonic oscillator and dynamical tidal response of Kerr black holes are presented to illustrate the framework.