Introduction to Vertex Operator Algebras and Their Representations

The field of vertex operator algebras is an active area of research and plays an integral role in infinite-dimensional Lie theory, string theory, and conformal field theory, and other subdisciplines of mathematics and physics. This book begins with a careful presentation of the theoretical foundations of vertex operator algebras and their modules, and then proceeds to a range of applications. The text features new, original results and a fresh perspective on the important works of many researchers; in particular, it provides a detailed treatment of the concept of a "representation'' of a vertex (operator) algebra. Requiring only a familiarity with basic algebra, this broad, self-contained treatment of the core topics in vertex algebras will appeal to graduate students and researchers in both mathematics and physics.

Klappentext

• Introduces the fundamental theory of vertex operator algebras and its basic techniques and examples. Begins with a detailed presentation of the theoretical foundations and proceeds to a range of applications. Includes a number of new, original results and brings fresh perspective to important works of many other researchers in algebra, lie theory, representation theory, string theory, quantum field theory, and other areas of math and physics.

Inhalt
1 Introduction.- 1.1 Motivation.- 1.2 Example of a vertex operator.- 1.3 The notion of vertex operator algebra.- 1.4 Simplification of the definition.- 1.5 Representations and modules.- 1.6 Construction of families of examples.- 1.7 Some further developments.- 2 Formal Calculus.- 2.1 Formal series and the formal delta function.- 2.2 Derivations and the formal Taylor Theorem.- 2.3 Expansions of zero and applications.- 3 Vertex Operator Algebras: The Axiomatic Basics.- 3.1 Definitions and some fundamental properties.- 3.2 Commutativity properties.- 3.3 Associativity properties.- 3.4 The Jacobi identity from commutativity and associativity.- 3.5 The Jacobi identity from commutativity.- 3.6 The Jacobi identity from skew symmetry and associativity.- 3.7 S3-symmetry of the Jacobi identity.- 3.8 The iterate formula and normal-ordered products.- 3.9 Further elementary notions.- 3.10 Weak nilpotence and nilpotence.- 3.11 Centralizers and the center.- 3.12 Direct product and tensor product vertex algebras.- 4 Modules.- 4.1 Definition and some consequences.- 4.2 Commutativity properties.- 4.3 Associativity properties.- 4.4 The Jacobi identity as a consequence of associativity and commutativity properties.- 4.5 Further elementary notions.- 4.6 Tensor product modules for tensor product vertex algebras.- 4.7 Vacuum-like vectors.- 4.8 Adjoining a module to a vertex algebra.- 5 Representations of Vertex Algebras and the Construction of Vertex Algebras and Modules.- 5.1 Weak vertex operators.- 5.2 The action of weak vertex operators on the space of weak vertex operators.- 5.3 The canonical weak vertex algebra ?(W) and the equivalence between modules and representations.- 5.4 Subalgebras of ?(W).- 5.5 Local subalgebras and vertex subalgebras of ?(W).- 5.6 Vertex subalgebras of ?(W)associated with the Virasoro algebra.- 5.7 General construction theorems for vertex algebras and modules.- 6 Construction of Families of Vertex Operator Algebras and Modules.- 6.1 Vertex operator algebras and modules associated to the Virasoro algebra.- 6.2 Vertex operator algebras and modules associated to affine Lie algebras.- 6.3 Vertex operator algebras and modules associated to Heisenberg algebras.- 6.4 Vertex operator algebras and modules associated to even latticesthe setting.- 6.5 Vertex operator algebras and modules associated to even latticesthe main results.- 6.6 Classification of the irreducible L?(?, O)-modules for g finite-dimensional simple and ? a positive integer.- References.