Abstract

We propose a (3+1)D linear set of covariant vector equations, which unify the spin-0 "new Dirac equation" with its spin-1/2 counterpart, proposed by Staunton. Our equations describe a spin-(0,1/2) supermultiplet with different numbers of degrees of freedom in the bosonic and fermionic sectors. The translation-invariant spin degrees of freedom are carried by two copies of the Heisenberg algebra. This allows us to realize space-time supersymmetry in a bosonized form. The grading structure is provided by an internal reflection operator. Then the construction is generalized by means of the Majorana equation to a supersymmetric theory of massive higher-spin particles. The resulting theory is characterized by a nonlinear symmetry superalgebra, that, in the large-spin limit, reduces to the super-Poincaré algebra with or without tensorial central charge. © 2008 The American Physical Society.