Questions tagged [vertex-algebras]
The vertex-algebras tag has no usage guidance.
81
questions
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Going between the abstract and the concrete notions of chiral homology
Let $X$ be a smooth algebraic curve over $\mathbf{C}$, and let $\mathcal{V}$ be a factorisation algebra over $X$, whose fibre above $x\in X$ is the vertex algebra $V$.
Note that $\mathcal{V}\in\...
- 4,134
2
votes
1
answer
133
views
Confusion about Wakimoto's chiral differential operators on $\mathbf{P}^1$
It is a classical result of Wakimoto that the sheaf of chiral differential operators $D_{ch}$ on $\mathbf{P}^1$ has global sections
$$D_{ch}(\mathbf{P}^1)\ \simeq\ L_{-2}(\mathfrak{sl}_2)$$
the simple ...
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1
vote
0
answers
60
views
What is the factorization algebra/space of an affine W algebra?
The affine vertex algebra $V_k(\mathfrak{g})$ factorizes, i.e. comes from a factorisation space, the Beilinson Drinfeld Grassmannian. Similarly, lattice vertex algebras have a factorization analogue.
...
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5
votes
1
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158
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Existence of orbifold vertex algebras – current status?
Let the finite group $G$ act on a vertex algebra $V$. It is expected that there are certain vector spaces $V_g$ (with the structure of $g$ twisted $V$ modules), with $V_1=V^G$, and
$$V/G\ :=\ \...
- 4,134
3
votes
1
answer
358
views
Twisted differential operator, chiral differential operator, $???$ (continue the sequence)
Let $X$ be a smooth variety.
One can define the notion of a sheaf of twisted differential operators (TDO) on $X$. They "quantise" functions on $T^*X$. Examples include the usual sheaf of ...
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8
votes
1
answer
488
views
Why are VOA characters modular forms (geometrically)?
In Zhu's seminal paper, he proves (5.3.2) that if $V$ is a vertex algebra the character of all of its modules are modular forms! (This is not literally true- there are conditions).
I have always found ...
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4
votes
0
answers
140
views
Computing theta functions of lattices in practice
I am motivated by a problem in 2d CFT to compute "generalized theta functions," expressions of the form
\begin{equation}
\vartheta_{L,u}(\tau) := \sum_{\alpha \in L} u(\alpha) q^{{\langle\...
- 41
2
votes
1
answer
367
views
Why "holomorphic" vertex algebra?
I have a background quite far from vertex algebras, and it seems like a vertex algebra is holomorphic if basically there is only one irreducible module, namely itself. Why is it called holomorphic?
- 802
4
votes
1
answer
347
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Zhu's algebra for the Virasoro VOA
I am trying to understand the proof in the appendix of the following paper:
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.110.8757&rep=rep1&type=pdf
The paper discusses Zhu's ...
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0
answers
156
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What is known about "dimension two" vertex algebras?
In the paper Chiral Koszul duality, Gaitsgory and Francis develop a notion of a chiral algebra living on an arbitrary variety $X$. When $X=\mathbf{A}^1$ and the chiral algebra is translation invariant,...
4
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98
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Logarithmic vector-valued modular functions and quasimodular forms with misleading modular weights
I have a somewhat imprecise question about functions with reasonably nice modular transformations that don't seem to fit nicely into what I understand of the plain vanilla theory of modular and ...
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5
votes
0
answers
167
views
BRST cohomology and vanishing cycles
Consider the $\mathbb{C}$-variety $\mathbb{A}^{1}$, equipped with the potential (ie global function) $P:=\frac{z^{n+1}}{n+1}$. We can form the twisted de Rham complex $H_{dR}(\mathbb{A}^{1},P)$ which ...
- 1,675
11
votes
1
answer
270
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Chiral homology for the Virasoro algebra and/or affine Lie algebra
I want to understand what concrete analytical objects are found in chiral homology of higher degree of a vertex algera (-module) $M$. More precisely: I can obtain conformal blocks on a surface $\Sigma$...
- 1,596
1
vote
0
answers
53
views
Quantum-airy operators to specialised ones
Let $V$ be a vector space of finite or countable dimension over $\mathbb{C}$. Let $n$ denote the dimension of $V$ and the index set $I=\{1,2,\ldots,n\}$($n$ tend to $\infty$). Let us choose an order ...
- 631
1
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0
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39
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A reformulation of commutativity for intertwinning operators?
$\DeclareMathOperator{\Id}{\mathrm{Id}}\DeclareMathOperator{\Rep}{\operatorname{Rep}}$Let $V$ be a nice vertex algebra, and $M_1, M_2, M_3, M_4, M_5, M_6$ be modules over $V$. Assume that I have ...
2
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0
answers
60
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Understanding the intuition behind the $Q(z)$-tensor product
Let $z$ be a fixed non-zero complex number. Let $V$ be a vertex algebra, $W_1$, $W_2$, and $W_3$ be $V$-modules. Huang defines a $Q(z)$-intertwining map between these modules to be a linear map $F:W_1\...
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3
votes
1
answer
140
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Intuition behind contragredient module of a VOA
Let $(V,Y)$ be a vertex operator algebra, and $V'$ be the graded dual of its underlying vector space. The contragredient module structure on $V'$ is given by $Y'$ defined by the formula:
$$\langle Y'(...
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6
votes
0
answers
84
views
Reference request: superconformal algebras and representations
I am looking for a book/monograph which deals with superconformal (vertex operator) algebras and their representation theory. What are some good books to understand to begin with the definition of a ...
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3
votes
1
answer
132
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Zhu's $V/C_2(V)$ algebra
As an example, take the Virasoro algebra, i.e. $V$ is spanned by elements of the form $L_{-2}^{k_1} \cdots L_{-n}^{k_{n-1}} \Omega$ where $\Omega$ is the vacuum and $n \geq 2$. As I understand, we ...
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3
votes
0
answers
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Twisted screening operators and twisted free-field realizations of $\mathcal{W}_n$ algebras
Let $\mathfrak{g}=\mathfrak{sl}_{n+1}$ and I am interested in the principal $\mathcal{W}$-algebra of $\mathcal{g}$ at self-dual level i.e. $k=- h ^{\vee} +1$, usually denoted by $\mathcal{W}_n$. Now ...
user35360
4
votes
2
answers
220
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Spectral Flow Invariance for Calabi-Yau Sigma Models
I am a mathematician who has become interested in some of the mathematics of string theory, of which I am largely ignorant, so please excuse any idiocies in what follows.
If $X$ is a Calabi-Yau $d$-...
- 1,675
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votes
1
answer
508
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What is the Zhu algebra of a lattice vertex algebra?
Associated to a vertex algebra $V$ is an associative algebra $A(V)$, the Zhu algebra. Its defining property is approximately that the representations of $V$ and of $A(V)$ are the same.
In vertex ...
- 4,134
4
votes
1
answer
114
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coset of affine Lie algebra
In many books about conformal field theory, when we talk about a coset $\mathfrak{g}_k/\mathfrak{h}_{k'}$, we would talk about how the modules of $\mathfrak{g}_k$ are decomposed into those of $\...
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votes
1
answer
471
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q-series identity related to Jackson-Slater, proof required
The question:
I have been trying to prove the following $q$-series identity for quite some time now:
$$
\sum_{k \geq 0} \frac{q^{2k^2}}{(q)_{2k}} = \sum_{m,k \geq 0} \frac{q^{m^2 + 3k m + 4k^2}}{(q)...
- 3,072
3
votes
0
answers
68
views
Composition of operators in $w_{1+\infty}$ and $W_{1+\infty}$
The algebra $W_{1+\infty}$ can be defined as a central extension of the lie algebra $w_{1+\infty}$ (defined as being spanned by $\left(-\partial_z \right)^m z^{-k}$ ). See for example: Alexandrov, ...
user35360
4
votes
1
answer
301
views
Examples of simple vertex operator algebras (VOAs)
A vertex operator algebra $V$ is called simple if $V$ is a simple $V$-module. What are some examples of simple VOAs? Are there lots of examples or this is a very strong condition? Is there a ...
user35360
2
votes
1
answer
154
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Vertex operator algebras and isomorphism of graded vector spaces
I have two vertex operator algebras and I would like to show that as graded vector spaces, they are isomorphic, rather than as algebras.
The issue is I have not found anything in the literature that ...
- 201
12
votes
1
answer
771
views
Factorization and vertex algebra cohomology
A chiral algebra on a smooth curve $X$, in the sense of Beilinson-Drinfeld, is a right $D_{X}$-module with a chiral bracket, which is a map $\mathcal{V}^{\boxtimes 2}(\infty\Delta)\rightarrow \Delta_{*...
- 1,675
2
votes
0
answers
86
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Representation theoretic definition of wavefunctions of an integrable hierarchy?
I am reading Kac's book on infinite dimensional lie algebras. In the last chapter, he starts with a highest weight module of an affine lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}(A)$, and uses it to define tau ...
user35360
7
votes
0
answers
226
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$X$ with $H^*(X)=$affine Verma module?
Let $\mathfrak{g}$ be a finite dimensional simple Lie algebra over $\mathbf{C}$, and $\widehat{\mathfrak{g}}_\kappa$ the associated affine Lie algebra. It is the central extension of the loop algebra $...
- 4,134
6
votes
1
answer
503
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$GL(\infty)$ group action through the boson-fermion correspondence
Every point of the Sato Grassmannian can be used to generate a tau function of the KP hierarchy. In addition, the Sato Grassmannian can be seen as a subset of the "second quantized fermion Fock space" ...
user35360
3
votes
0
answers
71
views
Free almost commutative vertex algebras
Given a commutative $k$-algebra $A$, we can freely generate a commutative vertex algebra by formally adjoining a derivation. We obtain a functor $CAlg_{k} \rightarrow CVAlg_{k} $, which I'll denote $\...
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votes
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Deformations of Vertex Algebras
As the title suggests, I'm interested in deformation theory of vertex algebras and their representations.
In the paper https://arxiv.org/abs/1806.08754, the authors construct, for a vertex algebra $...
- 1,675
4
votes
0
answers
256
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Are vertex operator algebras ever conspiratorial?
I have a vertex operator algebra (VOA) $V$ with all niceness properties (unitary, rational, CFT type, etc). Its Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g} = V_1$ of spin-$1$ fields is large, and I understand how the ...
- 49.4k
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Orthogonality relations for characters of VOAs?
If $G$ is a finite group, the characters of its irreps satisfy
$$
\langle \chi_1,\chi_2\rangle := \frac{1}{|G|}\sum_{g\in G} \chi_1(g)\; \overline{\chi_2(g)} = \delta_{\chi_1,\chi_2}.
$$
Alexei ...
- 40.3k
5
votes
1
answer
249
views
Classification of quasi-lisse vertex algebras
Quasi-lisse vertex algebras were introduced by Arakawa and Kawasetsu in Quasi-lisse vertex algebras and modular linear differential equations . They satisfy the property that the normalized character ...
user35360
7
votes
0
answers
169
views
A single vertex operator - bare bones explanation?
There is an ocean of literature (and a sea of popular texts inside) on vertex algebras, including quite a lot of Q & A here on MO, and I am trying to read some random selections from time to time. ...
- 16.2k
5
votes
1
answer
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Are extensions of regular vertex operator algebras also regular?
Let $U$ be a simple VOA which is self-dual and of CFT type (i.e., $U\simeq U'$, and $U$ has grading $U=\bigoplus_{n\in\mathbb N}U(n)$ with $U(0)$ spanned by the vacuum vector $\Omega$). Let $V$ be a ...
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0
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Vertex algebras and factorization algebras
It is often said that vertex algebras are a special case of factorization algebras. In particular, in their book "FAs in QFT" Costello/Gwilliam construct a functor from a certain class of 2d "...
- 1,473
6
votes
2
answers
428
views
Simple current extensions in VOA theory and CFTs
I apologize in advance if this is too broad and off-topic here. I have seen some papers in the field of vertex operator algebras (VOA) theory about simple current extensions. As far as I understand ...
user35360
15
votes
0
answers
354
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The Monster Moonshine Module from the engineering or algorithmic point of view
From what I understand (see, e.g., this question), the Monster Moonshine Module is a kind if "third generation" (or "second quantization"?) after the Golay code (with automorphism group $M_{24}$) and ...
- 22.1k
3
votes
1
answer
273
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Poisson vertex algebra
Suppose $vir_{c}= \operatorname{span}\langle L_{-2}v_{c},L_{-3}v_{c},....\rangle$ is a vector space spanned by Virasoro algebra. Then we have a symmetric algebra $Sym(vir_{c})$. For this symmetric ...
- 367
11
votes
1
answer
348
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Linear independence of genus-one correlation functions
Let $V$ be a vertex operator algebra with all the good finiteness properties that people usually assume (positively graded, $C_2$-cofinite, $V\cong V'$, etc.)
Let $W$ be a module for $V$, not ...
- 40.3k
5
votes
1
answer
192
views
Some examples of vertex algebra modules
Recently I'm learning the vertex modules. In the paper, there are a lot of abstract theory about the module theory,for instance the $C_{2}-$cofinite conditions and associated variety. I hope to find ...
- 367
5
votes
1
answer
244
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Modular tensor category associated to an even integral lattice and the lattice automorphism
Let $(L,\langle -,-\rangle)$ be an even integral lattice, and let $(A,q)$ be the associated discriminant form: $$
A=L^*/L, \quad q(a)=e^{\pi i \langle a,a\rangle}.
$$
We let $\hat L$ to be the ...
- 5,731
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0
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364
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Reference Request: Vertex Algebras
I am currently a graduate student in mathematics with an interest in vertex algebras. I am comfortable with the algebraic aspects and would like to learn more about the geometric aspects. The issue is ...
- 223
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votes
2
answers
1k
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What are advantages of chiral algebras over vertex algebras?
In Chiral Algebras, Beilinson and Drinfeld introduced the notion of chiral algebra, which based on the pseudo-tensor category of D-modules. On the other hand, There is already a notion of vertex ...
- 405
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votes
1
answer
138
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Does the Leclerc-Thibon involution exchange vertex operators of the first and second type?
This question is about $U_q ( \hat{\mathfrak{sl}}_2 )$ representation theory. There is a notion of vertex operators $\Phi_{\pm }(z)$ of first and $\Psi_{\pm}(z)$ of the second type. They are defined ...
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votes
2
answers
323
views
Annihilation operators in a vertex algebra
Let $V=\bigoplus_{d\in\mathbb N}V(d)$ be a Möbius-covariant vertex algebra with $V(0)=\mathbb C$.
Recall that a vector $v\in V$ is called quasi-primary if $L_1v=0$.
For $v\in V(d)$, we write $Y(...
- 40.3k
2
votes
1
answer
114
views
Two definitions of conformal inclusion
Assume that $V$ is a vertex operator algebra, and the VOA $V'$ is a vertex subalgebra of $V$. The notion that $V'\subset V$ is a conformal inclusion has different meanings in different literatures. ...
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