Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2013 / iii / Paper 43 / 2 / a / Solution

Sum the diagonal spinor entries of the supercharge anticommutator. Since $\mathrm{tr}{\sigma }^i=0$ and $\mathrm{tr}{\sigma }^0=2$, the Hamiltonian isFor a normalized vacuum, energy positivity in global supersymmetry follows fromIn the unbroken case, all supercharges annihilate the vacuum, giving $E_{\mathrm{vac}}=0$. Conversely, zero energy forces each nonnegative norm to vanish, so the vacuum is supersymmetric. The algebra fixes the additive zero of energy here. For an infinite homogeneous vacuum, use a finite-volume regulator and interpret the result as its vacuum energy density.