Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2002/iii/paper-68/2/a/solution

At fixed nonzero four-momentum, take the finite physical supermultiplet and write for fermion parity. Each supercharge is odd, so and the same holds for its adjoint. By the cyclic property of the trace,
Consequently . Sum the two spinor components of the Super-Poincaré algebra. Since , their sum is . On a fixed-energy representation, , yielding
For a nonzero physical one-particle momentum, , including the massless case. Hence the bosonic and fermionic physical state counts agree:
Equivalently a nonzero normalized supercharge and its adjoint define an odd involution pairing the two subspaces. This is supertrace pairing at positive energy; it counts spin polarizations, not merely distinct names of particles.
The phrase “every supermultiplet” requires this positive-energy qualification. A zero-energy supersymmetric vacuum with all supercharges acting as zero is a one-dimensional bosonic representation with no fermionic partner. It is a counterexample to the unrestricted statement, because division by is then impossible. It does not contradict the requested equality for particle supermultiplets.

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