Superspace geometrical realization of the N-extended super Virasoro algebra and its dual

We derive properties of N-extended super Virasoro algebras. These include adding central extensions, identification of all primary fields and the action of the adjoint representation on its dual. The final result suggest identification with the spectrum of fields in supergravity theories and superstring/M-theory constructed from NSR N-extended supersymmetric Virasoro algebras.     

Systematic approach to conformal systems with extended Virasoro symmetries

The Toda field theories, which exist for every simple Lie group, are shown to give realizations of extended Virasoro algebras that involve generators of spins higher than or equal to two. They are uniquely determined from the canonical lagrangian formalism. The quantization of the Toda field theories gives a systematic treatment of generalized conformal bosonic models. The well-known pattern of conformal field theories with non-extended Virasoro algebra, appears to be repeated for any simple group, leading to a “periodic table”, parallel to the mathematical classification of simple Lie groups.     

Framed Vertex Operator Algebras, Codes and the Moonshine Module

For a simple vertex operator algebra whose Virasoro element is a sum of commutative Virasoro elements of central charge ?, two codes are introduced and studied. It is proved that such vertex operator algebras are rational. For lattice vertex operator algebras and related ones, decompositions into direct sums of irreducible modules for the product of the Virasoro algebras of central charge ? are explicitly described. As an application, the decomposition of the moonshine vertex operator algebra is obtained for a distinguished system of 48 Virasoro algebras. Received: 14 July 1997 / Accepted: 8 September 1997     

Superalgebras,symplectic bosons and the Sugawara construction

New representations of affine Lie algebras are constructed using symplectic bosons of the sort that occur naturally in the BRST treatment of fermionic string theories. These representations are shown to have analogous properties to the current algebra representations in terms of free fermion fields, though they do not act in a positive space. In particular, the condition for the Sugawara construction of the Virasoro algebra to equal the free one is the existence of a superalgebra with a quadratic Casimir operator, paralleling the symmetric space theorem for fermionic field constructions. Both results are seen to be particular cases of a more general super-symmetric space theorem, which arises from considering an affinisation of the superalgebras. These algebras are realised in terms of free fermions and symplectic bosons and lead to a super-Sugawara construction of the Virasoro algebra. The conditions for this to equal a Virasoro algebra obtained from the free fields are provided by the super-symmetric space theorem.     

The A-D-E classification of minimal andA 1 (1) conformal invariant theories

We present a detailed and complete proof of our earlier conjecture on the classification of minimal conformal invariant theories. This is based on an exhaustive construction of all modular invariant sesquilinear forms, with positive integral coefficients, in the characters of the Virasoro or of theA ₁ ⁽¹⁾ Kac-Moody algebras, which describe the corresponding partition functions on a torus. A remarkable correspondence emerges with simply laced Lie algebras.     

Unitary representations of the Virasoro and super-Virasoro algebras

It is shown that a method previously given for constructing representations of the Virasoro algebra out of representations of affine Kac-Moody algebras yields the full discrete series of highest weight irreducible representations of the Virasoro algebra. The corresponding method for the super-Virasoro algebras (i.e. the Neveu-Schwarz and Ramond algebras) is described in detail and shown to yield the full discrete series of irreducible highest weight representations.     

Holomorphic Chern-Simons-Witten theory: From 2D to 4D conformal field theories

It is well known that rational 2D conformal field theories are connected with Chern-Simons theories defined on 3D real manifolds. We consider holomorphic analogues of Chern-Simons theories defined on 3D complex manifolds (six real dimensions) and describe 4D conformal field theories connected with them. All these models are integrable. We describe analogues of the Virasoro and affine Lie algebras, the local action of which on fields of holomorphic analogues of Chern-Simons theories becomes non-local after pushing down to the action on fields of integrable 4D conformal field theories. Quantization of integrable 4D conformal field theories and relations to string theories are briefly discussed.     

Conformal invariance,the KdV equation and coadjoint orbits of the Virasoro algebra

We use the transformation properties of the energy-momentum tensor of 2-dimensional conformal field theories to study the symplectic geometry of DiffS¹/S¹ together with the other coadjoint orbits of the Virasoro algebra in the space of quadratic differentials. Also, we examine orbits of the N = 1 and N = 2 super-Virasoro algebras and investigate the connections with nonlinear differential equations of KdV type. The importance that the dual of the Virasoro algebra may have in the geometric formulation of string theory is discussed as well.     

Generalization of the Knizhnik–Zamolodchikov Equations

In this Letter, we introduce a generalization of the Knizhnik–Zamolodchikov equations from affine Lie algebras to a wide class of conformal field theories (not necessarily rational). The new equations describe correlations functions of primary fields and of a finite number of their descendents. Our proposal is based on Nahm's concept of small spaces which provide adequate substitutes for the lowest energy subspaces in modules of affine Lie algebras. We explain how to construct the first order differential equations and investigate properties of the associated connections, thereby preparing the grounds for an analysis of quantum symmetries. The general considerations are illustrated in examples of Virasoro minimal models.     

On the quantum super Virasoro algebra

The quantum super-algebra structure on the deformed super Virasoro algebra is investigated. More specifically we established the possibility of defining a nontrivial Hopf super-algebra on both one and two-parameters deformed super Virasoro algebras.     

Free fermion and parafermion theories in two dimensions

We show that the spectrum and the observables of a free massless O(N) parafermion theory of order Q in two dimensions is related to, but not identical with, a free fermion theory with O(N)×O(Q) symmetry. The Virasoro and the O(N) Kac-Moody algebras of these theories are given.     

Sugawara's construction for Kac-Moody-Malcev algebras

We give a construction of the Virasoro algebra in terms of bilinear combinations of currents. The currents satisfy the Kac-Moody-Malcev commutation relations. The Kac-Moody-Malcev algebras are the generalization of Lie algebras of Kac-Moody type to the Malcev algebras. Thus, we give the generalization of the Sugawara construction to the case of Kac-Moody-Malcev algebras.     

On the Uniqueness of Diffeomorphism Symmetry in Conformal Field Theory

A Möbius covariant net of von Neumann algebras on S¹ is diffeomorphism covariant if its Möbius symmetry extends to diffeomorphism symmetry. We prove that in case the net is either a Virasoro net or any at least 4-regular net such an extension is unique: the local algebras together with the Möbius symmetry (equivalently: the local algebras together with the vacuum vector) completely determine it. We draw the two following conclusions for such theories. (1) The value of the central charge c is an invariant and hence the Virasoro nets for different values of c are not isomorphic as Möbius covariant nets. (2) A vacuum preserving internal symmetry always commutes with the diffeomorphism symmetries. We further use our result to give a large class of new examples of nets (even strongly additive ones), which are not diffeomorphism covariant; i.e. which do not admit an extension of the symmetry to Diff⁺(S¹).Supported in part by the Italian MIUR and GNAMPA-INDAM.     

Sugawara construction for higher genus Riemann surfaces

By the classical genus zero Sugawara construction one obtains representations of the Virasoro algebra from admissible representations of affine Lie algebras (Kac-Moody algebras of affine type). In this lecture, the classical construction is recalled first. Then, after giving a review on the global multi-point algebras of Krichever-Novikov type for compact Riemann surfaces of arbitrary genus, the higher genus Sugawara construction is introduced. Finally, the lecture reports on results obtained in a joint work with O. K. Sheinman. We were able to show that also in the higher genus, multi-point situation one obtains (from representations of the global algebras of affine type) representations of a centrally extended algebra of meromorphic vector fields on Riemann surfaces. The latter algebra is a generalization of the Virasoro algebra to higher genus.     

Graded Symmetry Algebras of Time-Dependent Evolution Equations and Application to the Modified KP Equations

Abstract

By starting from known graded Lie algebras, including Virasoro algebras, new kinds of time-dependent evolution equations are found possessing graded symmetry algebras. The modified KP equations are taken as an illustrative example: new modified KP equations with m arbitrary time-dependent coefficients are obtained possessing symmetries involving m arbitrary functions of time. A particular graded symmetry algebra for the modified KP equations is derived in this connection homomorphic to the Virasoro algebras.

Dedicated to Prof. W.I. Fushchych on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

The Virasoro vertex algebra and factorization algebras on Riemann surfaces

This paper focuses on the connection of holomorphic two-dimensional factorization algebras and vertex algebras which has been made precise in the forthcoming book of Costello–Gwilliam. We provide a construction of the Virasoro vertex algebra starting from a local Lie algebra on the complex plane. Moreover, we discuss an extension of this factorization algebra to a factorization algebra on the category of Riemann surfaces. The factorization homology of this factorization algebra is computed as the correlation functions. We provide an example of how the Virasoro factorization algebra implements conformal symmetry of the beta–gamma system using the method of effective BV quantization.     

Irreducible representations of Virasoro-toroidal Lie algebras

Toroidal Lie algebras and their vertex operator representations were introduced in [MEY] and a class of indecomposable modules were investigated. In this work, we extend the toroidal algebra by the Virasoro algebra thus constructing a semi-direct product algebra containing the toroidal algebra as an ideal and the Virasoro algebra as a subalgebra. With the use of vertex operators and certain oscillator representations of the Virasoro algebra it is proved that the corresponding Fock space gives rise to a class of irreducible modules for the Virasoro-toroidal algebra.To A. John Coleman on the occasion of his 75th birthday     

Graded quasi-Lie algebras

This paper is concerned with a new class of graded algebras naturally uniting within a single framework various deformations of the Witt, Virasoro and other Lie algebras based on twisted and deformed derivations, as well as color Lie algebras and Lie superalgebras. Presented at the International Colloquium “Integrable Systems and Quantum Symmetries”, Prague, 16–18 June 2005. Supported by the Liegrits network Supported by the Crafoord foundation