Strongly Homotopy Lie Bialgebras and Lie Quasi-bialgebras

Structures of Lie algebras, Lie coalgebras, Lie bialgebras and Lie quasibialgebras are presented as solutions of Maurer–Cartan equations on corresponding governing differential graded Lie algebras using the big bracket construction of Kosmann–Schwarzbach. This approach provides a definition of an L _∞-(quasi)bialgebra (strongly homotopy Lie (quasi)bialgebra). We recover an L _∞-algebra structure as a particular case of our construction. The formal geometry interpretation leads to a definition of an L _∞ (quasi)bialgebra structure on V as a differential operator Q on V, self-commuting with respect to the big bracket. Finally, we establish an L _∞-version of a Manin (quasi) triple and get a correspondence theorem with L _∞-(quasi)bialgebras. This paper is dedicated to Jean-Louis Loday on the occasion of his 60th birthday with admiration and gratitude.     

Quasiclassical Lian-Zuckerman Homotopy Algebras,Courant Algebroids and Gauge Theory

We define a quasiclassical limit of the Lian-Zuckerman homotopy BV algebra (quasiclassical LZ algebra) on the subcomplex, corresponding to “light modes”, i.e. the elements of zero conformal weight, of the semi-infinite (BRST) cohomology complex of the Virasoro algebra associated with vertex operator algebra (VOA) with a formal parameter. We also construct a certain deformation of the BRST differential parametrized by a constant two-component tensor, such that it leads to the deformation of the A _∞-subalgebra of the quasiclassical LZ algebra. Altogether this gives a functor the category of VOA with a formal parameter to the category of A _∞-algebras. The associated generalized Maurer-Cartan equation gives the analogue of the Yang-Mills equation for a wide class of VOAs. Applying this construction to an example of VOA generated by β - γ systems, we find a remarkable relation between the Courant algebroid and the homotopy algebra of the Yang-Mills theory.     

Homotopy Algebras Inspired by Classical Open-Closed String Field Theory

We define a homotopy algebra associated to classical open-closed strings. We call it an open-closed homotopy algebra (OCHA). It is inspired by Zwiebach's open-closed string field theory and also is related to the situation of Kontsevich's deformation quantization. We show that it is actually a homotopy invariant notion; for instance, the minimal model theorem holds. Also, we show that our open-closed homotopy algebra gives us a general scheme for deformation of open string structures (A_∞-algebras) by closed strings (L_∞-algebras). H. K is supported by JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientists. J. S. is supported in part by NSF grant FRG DMS-0139799 and US-Czech Republic grant INT-0203119.     

Open-Closed Moduli Spaces and Related Algebraic Structures

We set up a Batalin–Vilkovisky Quantum Master Equation (QME) for open-closed string theory and show that the corresponding moduli spaces give rise to a solution, a generating function for their fundamental chains. The equation encodes the topological structure of the compactification of the moduli space of bordered Riemann surfaces. The moduli spaces of bordered J-holomorphic curves are expected to satisfy the same equation, and from this viewpoint, our paper treats the case of the target space equal to a point. We also introduce the notion of a symmetric Open-Closed Topological Conformal Field Theory (OC TCFT) and study the L _∞ and A _∞ algebraic structures associated to it.     

On <Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis>*-algebras related to constrained representations of a free group

We consider representations of the free group F ₂ on two generators for which the norm of the sum of the generators and their inverses is bounded by some number μ ∈ [0, 4]. These μ-constrained representations determine a C*-algebra A _μ for each μ ∈ [0, 4]. If μ = 4, this gives the full group C*-algebra of F ₂. We prove that these C*-algebras form a continuous bundle of C*-algebras over [0, 4] and evaluate their K-groups.     

On the Extension of a TCFT to the Boundary of the Moduli Space

The purpose of this paper is to describe an analogue of a construction of Costello in the context of finite-dimensional differential graded Frobenius algebras which produces closed forms on the decorated moduli space of Riemann surfaces. We show that this construction extends to a certain natural compactification of the moduli space which is associated with the modular closure of the associative operad, due to the absence of ultra-violet divergences in the finite-dimensional case. We demonstrate that this construction is equivalent to the “dual construction” of Kontsevich.     

Nonassociative Star Product Deformations for D-Brane World-Volumes in Curved Backgrounds

We investigate the deformation of D-brane world-volumes in curved backgrounds. We calculate the leading corrections to the boundary conformal field theory involving the background fields, and in particular we study the correlation functions of the resulting system. This allows us to obtain the world-volume deformation, identifying the open string metric and the noncommutative deformation parameter. The picture that unfolds is the following: when the gauge invariant combination ω=B+F is constant one obtains the standard Moyal deformation of the brane world-volume. Similarly, when dω= 0 one obtains the noncommutative Kontsevich deformation, physically corresponding to a curved brane in a flat background. When the background is curved, H=dω≠ 0, we find that the relevant algebraic structure is still based on the Kontsevich expansion, which now defines a nonassociative star product with an A _∞ homotopy associative algebraic structure. We then recover, within this formalism, some known results of Matrix theory in curved backgrounds. In particular, we show how the effective action obtained in this framework describes, as expected, the dielectric effect of D-branes. The polarized branes are interpreted as a soliton, associated to the condensation of the brane gauge field. Received: 22 March 2001 / Accepted: 13 July 2001     

On a possible origin of quantum groups

A Poisson bracket structure having the commutation relations of the quantum group SL _q (2) is quantized by means of the Moyal star-product on C (²), showing that quantum groups are not exactly quantizations, but require a quantization (with another parameter) in the background. The resulting associative algebra is a strongly invariant nonlinear star-product realization of the q-algebra U _q (sl(2)). The principle of strong invariance (the requirement that the star-commutator is star-expressed, up to a phase, by the same function as its classical limit) implies essentially the uniqueness of the commutation relations of U _q (sl(2)).     

On Hyper-Kähler Manifolds of Type A ∞ and D ∞

We shall use an infinite dimensional hyper-K?hler quotient method to obtain hyper-K?hler 4 manifolds of type A _∞ and D _∞. Hyper-K?hler manifolds of type A _∞ and D _∞ are constructed in terms of Dynkin diagrams of type A _∞ and D _∞ respectively. A hyper-K?hler manifold of type D _∞ is the minimal resolution of the quotient space of a hyper-K?hler manifold of type A _∞ by an involution. Finally we shall show that a hyper-K?hler manifold of type A _∞ can be considered as the universal cover of elliptic fibre space of type I _b . Received: 18 July 1997 / Accepted: 14 April 1998     

Local Index Formula on the Equatorial Podleś Sphere

We discuss spectral properties of the equatorial Podleś sphere S _q ². As a preparation we also study the ‘degenerate’ (i.e. q=0) case (related to the quantum disk). Over S _q ² we consider two different spectral triples:one related to the Fock representation of the Toeplitz algebra and the isopectral one given in [7]. After the identification of the smooth pre-C ^*-algebra we compute the dimension spectrum and residues. We check the nontriviality of the (noncommutative) Chern character of the associated Fredholm modules by computing the pairing with the fundamental projector of the C ^*-algebra (the nontrivial generator of the K ₀-group) as well as the pairing with the q-analogue of the Bott projector. Finally, we show that the local index formula is trivially satisfied.     

Affine Toda Field Theory as a 3-Dimensional Integrable System

The affine Toda field theory is studied as a 2+1-dimensional system. The third dimension appears as the discrete space dimension, corresponding to the simple roots in the A _N affine root system, enumerated according to the cyclic order on the A _N affine Dynkin diagram. We show that there exists a natural discretization of the affine Toda theory. The quantum analog of the τ-variables is found. The thermodynamic Bethe ansatz of the affine Toda system is studied in the limit L,N→∞. It is shown that the free energy of the systems grows proportionally to the volume. Received: 23 May 1996 / Accepted: 22 August 1996     

Representation theoretical meaning of the initial value problem for the Toda lattice hierarchy: I

The Toda lattice hierarchy is shown to have the Bruhat decomposition of the A group as its parameter space instead of the Grassmann manifold for the KP hierarchy. Takasaki's work on the initial value problem for the Toda lattice hierarchy is reinterpreted from this point of view.     

A Note on the Koszul Complex in Deformation Quantization

The aim of this short note is to present a proof of the existence of an A _∞-quasi-isomorphism between the A _∞-S(V ^*)-ù(V){\wedge(V)} -bimodule K, introduced in Calaque et al. (Bimodules and branes in deformation quantization, 2009), and the Koszul complex K(V) of S(V ^*), viewed as an A _∞-S(V ^*)-ù(V){\wedge(V)} -bimodule, for V a finite-dimensional (complex or real) vector space.     

Noncommutative Instantons and Twistor Transform

Recently N. Nekrasov and A. Schwarz proposed a modification of the ADHM construction of instantons which produces instantons on a noncommutative deformation of ℝ⁴. In this paper we study the relation between their construction and algebraic bundles on noncommutative projective spaces. We exhibit one-to-one correspondences between three classes of objects: framed bundles on a noncommutative ℙ², certain complexes of sheaves on a noncommutative ℙ³, and the modified ADHM data. The modified ADHM construction itself is interpreted in terms of a noncommutative version of the twistor transform. We also prove that the moduli space of framed bundles on the noncommutative ℙ² has a natural hyperk?hler metric and is isomorphic as a hyperk?hler manifold to the moduli space of framed torsion free sheaves on the commutative ℙ². The natural complex structures on the two moduli spaces do not coincide but are related by an SO(3) rotation. Finally, we propose a construction of instantons on a more general noncommutative ℝ⁴ than the one considered by Nekrasov and Schwarz (a q-deformed ℝ⁴). Received: 3 May 2000 / Accepted: 3 April 2001     

Omni-Lie 2-algebras and their Dirac structures

We introduce the notion of omni-Lie 2-algebra, which is a categorification of Weinstein’s omni-Lie algebras. We prove that there is a one-to-one correspondence between strict Lie 2-algebra structures on 2-sub-vector spaces of a 2-vector space V$\mathbb{V}$ and Dirac structures on the omni-Lie 2-algebra gl(V)⊕V$\mathfrak{g}\mathfrak{l}\left(\mathbb{V}\right)\oplus \mathbb{V}$. In particular, strict Lie 2-algebra structures on V$\mathbb{V}$ itself one-to-one correspond to Dirac structures of the form of graphs. Finally, we introduce the notion of twisted omni-Lie 2-algebra to describe (non-strict) Lie 2-algebra structures. Dirac structures of a twisted omni-Lie 2-algebra correspond to certain (non-strict) Lie 2-algebra structures, which include string Lie 2-algebra structures.     

Combinatorial quantization of the Hamiltonian Chern-Simons theory II

This paper further develops the combinatorial approach to quantization of the Hamiltonian Chern Simons theory advertised in [1]. Using the theory of quantum Wilson lines, we show how the Verlinde algebra appears within the context of quantum group gauge theory. This allows to discuss flatness of quantum connections so that we can give a mathematically rigorous definition of the algebra of observablesA _CS of the Chern Simons model. It is a *-algebra of functions on the quantum moduli space of flat connections and comes equipped with a positive functional (integration). We prove that this data does not depend on the particular choices which have been made in the construction. Following ideas of Fock and Rosly [2], the algebraA _CS provides a deformation quantization of the algebra of functions on the moduli space along the natural Poisson bracket induced by the Chern Simons action. We evaluate a volume of the quantized moduli space and prove that it coincides with the Verlinde number. This answer is also interpreted as a partition partition function of the lattice Yang-Mills theory corresponding to a quantum gauge group.Supported by Swedish Natural Science Research Council (NFR) under the contract F-FU 06821304 and by the Federal Ministry of Science and Research, Austria.Part of project P8916-PHY of the Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung in ÖsterreichSupported in part by DOE Grant No DE-FG02-88ER25065     

On the Space of KdV Fields

The space of functions A over the phase space of KdV-hierarchy is studied as a module over the ring generated by commuting derivations. A -free resolution of A is constructed by Babelon, Bernard and Smirnov by taking the classical limit of the construction in quantum integrable models assuming a certain conjecture. We propose another -free resolution of A by extending the construction in the classical finite dimensional integrable system associated with a certain family of hyperelliptic curves to infinite dimension assuming a similar conjecture. The relation between the two constructions is given.      

Formality Theorem for Hochschild Cochains via Transfer

We construct a 2-colored operad Ger _∞ which, on the one hand, extends the operad Ger _∞ governing homotopy Gerstenhaber algebras and, on the other hand, extends the 2-colored operad governing open-closed homotopy algebras. We show that Tamarkin’s Ger _∞-structure on the Hochschild cochain complex C ^•(A, A) of an A _∞-algebra A extends naturally to a Ger⁺_￥{{\bf Ger}^+_{\infty}}-structure on the pair (C ^•(A, A), A). We show that a formality quasi-isomorphism for the Hochschild cochains of the polynomial algebra can be obtained via transfer of this Ger⁺_￥{{\bf Ger}^+_{\infty}}-structure to the cohomology of the pair (C ^•(A, A), A). We show that Ger⁺_￥{{\bf Ger}^+_{\infty}} is a sub DG operad of the first sheet E ¹(SC) of the homology spectral sequence for the Fulton–MacPherson version SC of Voronov’s Swiss Cheese operad. Finally, we prove that the DG operads Ger⁺_￥{{\bf Ger}^+_{\infty}} and E ¹(SC) are non-formal.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis><Subscript>∞</Subscript>-Algebras from Multisymplectic Geometry

A manifold is multisymplectic, or more specifically n-plectic, if it is equipped with a closed nondegenerate differential form of degree n + 1. In previous work with Baez and Hoffnung, we described how the ‘higher analogs’ of the algebraic and geometric structures found in symplectic geometry should naturally arise in 2-plectic geometry. In particular, just as a symplectic manifold gives a Poisson algebra of functions, any 2-plectic manifold gives a Lie 2-algebra of 1-forms and functions. Lie n-algebras are examples of L _∞-algebras: graded vector spaces equipped with a collection of skew-symmetric multi-brackets that satisfy a generalized Jacobi identity. Here, we generalize our previous result. Given an n-plectic manifold, we explicitly construct a corresponding Lie n-algebra on a complex consisting of differential forms whose multi-brackets are specified by the n-plectic structure. We also show that any n-plectic manifold gives rise to another kind of algebraic structure known as a differential graded Leibniz algebra. We conclude by describing the similarities between these two structures within the context of an open problem in the theory of strongly homotopy algebras. We also mention a possible connection with the work of Barnich, Fulp, Lada, and Stasheff on the Gelfand–Dickey–Dorfman formalism.     

A generalization of the classical moment problem on *-algebras with applications to relativistic quantum theory. I.

A (non-commutative) generalization of the classical moment problem is formulated on arbitrary *-algebras with units. This is used to produce aC*-algebra associated with the space of test functions for quantum fields. ThisC*-algebra plays a role in theories of bounded localized observables in Hilbert space which is similar to that of the space of test functions in quantum field theories (namely it is represented in Hilbert space). The case of local quantum fields which satisfy a slight generalization of the growth condition is investigated. Laboratorie associé au Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.