The new general upper bound mu <= [c/24] + 1 for the minimal weight mu of a self-dual vertex operator superalgebra of central charge c different from 47/2 is proven. For central charges c <= 48, further improved estimates are given and examples of with large minimal weight are discussed. We also study the case of vertex operator superalgebras with N=1 supersymmetry which was first considered by Witten in connection with three-dimensional quantum gravity. The upper bound mu^* <= (1/2)[c/12]+1/2 for the minimal superconformal weight is obtained for c different from 47/2.
In addition, we show that it is impossible that the monster sporadic group acts on an extremal self-dual N=1 supersymmetric vertex operator superalgebra of central charge 48 in a way proposed by Witten if certain standard assumptions about orbifold constructions hold. The same statement holds for extremal self-dual vertex operator algebras of central charge 48.
We study several families of vertex operator superalgebras from a jet (super)scheme point of view. We provide new examples of vertex algebras which are "chiralizations" of their Zhu's Poisson algebras $R_V$. Our examples come from affine $C_\ell^{(1)}$-series vertex algebras ($\ell \geq 1$), certain $N=1$ superconformal vertex algebras, Feigin-Stoyanovsky principal subspaces, Feigin-Stoyanovsky type subspaces, graph vertex algebras $W_Γ$, and extended Virasoro vertex algebra. We also give a counterexample to the chiralization property for the $N=2$ superconformal vertex algebra of central char…
The notion of "N = 2 vertex superalgebra with two odd formal variables" is presented, the main axiom being a Jacobi identity with odd formal variables in which an N=2 superconformal shift is incorporated into the usual Jacobi identity for a vertex superalgebra. It is shown that as a consequence of these axioms, the N=2 vertex superalgebra is naturally a representation of the Lie algebra isomorphic to the three-dimensional algebra of superderivations with basis consisting of the usual conformal operator and the two N=2 superconformal operators. The notion of N=2 Neveu-Schwarz vertex operator su…
We introduce the notion of N=1 supergeometric vertex operator superalgebra motivated by the worldsheet geometry underlying genus-zero, two-dimensional, holomorphic N=1 superconformal field theory. We then show, assuming the convergence of certain projective factors, that the category of such objects is isomorphic to the category of N=1 Neveu-Schwarz vertex operator superalgebras.
We construct the screening currents of the quantum superalgebra $U_q(\hat{sl}(N|1))$ for an arbitrary level $k \neq -N+1$. We show that these screening currents commute with the superalgebra modulo total difference. We propose bosonizations of the vertex operators by using the screening currents. We check that these vertex operators are the intertwiners among the Fock-Wakimoto representation and the typical representation for rank $N \leq 4$.
This is Part I of a series of papers constructing intertwining operator superalgebras and vertex tensor categories associated to the superconformal minimal models and other related models. In this paper, we construct the intertwining operator superalgebras and vertex tensor categories in the N=1 case.
We construct the intertwining operator superalgebras and vertex tensor categories for the N=2 superconformal unitary minimal models and other related models.
In this paper, the notion of unitary vertex operator superalgebra is introduced. It is proved that the vertex operator superalgebras associated to the unitary highest weight representations for the Neveu-Schwarz Lie superalgebra, Heisenberg superalgebras and to positive definite integral lattices are unitary vertex operator superalgebras. The unitary structures are then used to study the structures of vertex operator superalgebras, it is proved that any unitary vertex operator superalgebra is a direct sum of strong CFT type unitary simple vertex operator superalgebras. The classification of un…
Vertex operator superalgebras are studied and various results on rational Vertex operator superalgebras are obtained. In particular, the vertex operator super subalgebras generated by the weight 1/2 and weight 1 subspaces are determined. It is also established that if the even part $V_{\bar 0}$ of a vertex operator superalgebra $V$ is rational, so is $V.$
Based on the loop-algebraic presentation of 2-toroidal Lie superalgebras, free field representation of toroidal Lie superalgebras of type $A(m, n)$ is constructed using both vertex operators and bosonic fields.
In this note we study holomorphic integer graded vertex superalgebras. We prove that all such vertex superalgebras of central charge 8 and 16 are purely even. For the case of central charge 24 we prove that the weight-one Lie superalgebra is either zero, of superdimension 24, or else is one of an explicit list of 1332 semisimple Lie superalgebras.
In this paper, vertex representations of the 2-toroidal Lie superalgebras of type $D(m, n)$ are constructed using both bosonic fields and vertex operators based on their loop algebraic presentation.
Twisted modules for N=2 supersymmetric vertex operator superalgebras are classified for the vertex operator superalgebra automorphisms which are lifts of a finite automorphism of the N=2 Neveu-Schwarz Lie superalgebra representation. These include the Ramond-twisted sectors and mirror-twisted sectors for N=2 vertex operator superalgebras, as well as twisted modules related to more general "spectral flow" representations of the N=2 Neveu-Schwarz algebra. We present the construct of twisted modules for free N=2 vertex operator superalgebras for all of the N=2 Neveu-Schwarz Lie superalgebra autom…
We give an analogue for vertex operator algebras and superalgebras of the notion of endomorphism ring of a vector space by means of a notion of ``local system of vertex operators'' for a (super) vector space. We first prove that any local system of vertex operators on a (super) vector space $M$ has a natural vertex (super)algebra structure with $M$ as a module. Then we prove that for a vertex (operator) superalgebra $V$, giving a $V$-module $M$ is equivalent to giving a vertex (operator) superalgebra homomorphism from $V$ to some local system of vertex operators on $M$. As applications, we pro…
Drinfeld realisations are constructed for the quantum affine superalgebras of the series ${\rm\mathfrak{osp}}(1|2n)^{(1)}$,${\rm\mathfrak{sl}}(1|2n)^{(2)}$ and ${\rm\mathfrak{osp}}(2|2n)^{(2)}$. By using the realisations, we develop vertex operator representations and classify the finite dimensional irreducible representations for these quantum affine superalgebras.
Huang's geometric interpretation of vertex operator algebras is extended to a supergeometric interpretation of vertex operator superalgebras. In particular, the geometry of spheres with punctures and local analytic coordinates in terms of exponentials of derivations is extended to the geometry of superspheres with punctures, a given spin structure, and local superconformal coordinates in terms of exponentials of superderivations. The notion of supergeometric vertex operator superalgebra is introduced, and in addition, the notion of (superalgebraic) vertex operator superalgebra over a Grassmann…
Level-one representations of the quantum affine superalgebra $U_q[\hat{gl(N|N)}]$ associated to the appropriate non-standard system of simple roots and $q$-vertex operators (intertwining operators) associated with the level-one modules are constructed explicitly in terms of free bosonic fields.
After giving some definitions for vertex operator SUPERalgebras and their modules, we construct an associative algebra corresponding to any vertex operator superalgebra, such that the representations of the vertex operator algebra are in one-to-one correspondence with those of the corresponding associative algebra. A way is presented to decribe the fusion rules for the vertex operator superalgebras via modules of the associative algebra. The above are generalizations of Zhu's constructions for vertex operator algebras. Then we deal in detail with vertex operator superalgebras corresponding to …
This paper is a natural continuation of our previous work on conformal embeddings of vertex algebras [6], [7], [8]. Here we consider conformal embeddings in simple affine vertex superalgebra $V_k(\mathfrak g)$ where $\mathfrak g=\mathfrak g_{\bar 0}\oplus \mathfrak g_{\bar 1}$ is a basic classical simple Lie superalgebras. Let $\mathcal V_k (\mathfrak g_{\bar 0})$ be the subalgebra of $V_k(\mathfrak g)$ generated by $\mathfrak g_{\bar 0}$. We first classify all levels $k$ for which the embedding $\mathcal V_k (\mathfrak g_{\bar 0})$ in $V_k(\mathfrak g)$ is conformal. Next we prove that, for a…
Let Uq(g) be the quantum affine superalgebra associated with an affine Kac-Moody superalgebra g which belongs to the three series osp(1|2n)^(1),sl(1|2n)^(2) and osp(2|2n)^(2). We develop vertex operator constructions for the level 1 irreducible integrable highest weight representations and classify the finite dimensional irreducible representations of Uq(g). This makes essential use of the Drinfeld realisation for Uq(g), and quantum correspondences between affine Kac-Moody superalgebras, developed in earlier papers.
We introduce a new family of C_2-cofinite N=1 vertex operator superalgebras SW(m), $m \geq 1$, which are natural super analogs of the triplet vertex algebra family W(p), $p \geq 2$, important in logarithmic conformal field theory. We classify irreducible SW(m)-modules and discuss logarithmic modules. We also compute bosonic and fermionic formulas of irreducible SW(m) characters. Finally, we contemplate possible connections between the category of SW(m)-modules and the category of modules for the quantum group U^{small}_q(sl_2), q=e^{\frac{2 πi}{2m+1}}, by focusing primarily on properties of ch…
This paper is about the orbifold theory for vertex operator superalgebras. Given a vertex operator superalgebra V and a finite automorphism group G of V, we show that the trace functions associated to the twisted sectors are holomorphic in the upper half plane for any commuting pairs in G under the C_2-cofinite condition. We also establish that these functions afford a representation of the full modular group if V is C_2-cofinite and g-rational for any g in G.
In this paper, we investigate the Lie algebra structures of weight one subspaces of $C_2$-cofinite vertex operator superalgebras. We also show that for any positive integer $k$, vertex operator superalgebras $L_{sl(1|n+1)}(k,0)$ and $L_{osp(2|2n)}(k,0)$ have infinitely many irreducible admissible modules. As a consequence, we give a proof of the fact that $L_{\mathfrak g}(k,0)$ is $C_2$-cofinite if and only if $\mathfrak g$ is either a simple Lie algebra, or $\mathfrak g=osp(1|2n)$, and $k$ is a nonnegative integer. As an application, we show that $L_{G(3)}(1,0)$ is a vertex operator superalge…
The purpose of this work is to illustrate in a family of interesting examples how to study the representation theory of vertex operator superalgebras by combining the theory of vertex algebra extensions and modular forms. Let $L_k\left(\mathfrak{osp}(1 | 2)\right)$ be the simple affine vertex operator superalgebra of $\mathfrak{osp}(1|2)$ at an admissible level $k$. We use a Jacobi form decomposition to see that this is a vertex operator superalgebra extension of $L_k(\mathfrak{sl}_2)\otimes \text{Vir}(p, (p+p')/2)$ where $k+3/2=p/(2p')$ and $\text{Vir}(u, v)$ denotes the regular Virasoro vert…
The shadow V' of a self-dual vertex operator superalgebra V is defined as the direct sum of the irreducible modules of its even vertex operator subalgebra $V_{(0)}$ not contained in $V=V_{(0)}+V_{(1)}$. We describe the self-dual ``very nice'' unitary rational vertex operator superalgebras V of rank c whose shadows have the largest possible minimal weights c/8 or c/8-1. The results are analogous to and imply the corresponding results for self-dual binary codes and lattices.
We introduce the notion of ``local system of $\Bbb{Z}_{T}$-twisted vertex operators'' on a $\Bbb{Z}_{2}$-graded vector space $M$, generalizing the notion of local system of vertex operators [Li]. First, we prove that any local system of $\Bbb{Z}_{T}$-twisted vertex operators on $M$ has a vertex superalgebra structure with an automorphism $σ$ of order $T$ with $M$ as a $σ$-twisted module. Then we prove that for a vertex (operator) superalgebra $V$ with an automorphism $σ$ of order $T$, giving a $σ$-twisted $V$-module $M$ is equivalent to giving a vertex (operator) superalgebra homomorphism from…
In this article we prove that the full automorphism group of the baby-monster vertex operator superalgebra constructed by Hoehn is isomorphic to 2xB, where B is the baby-monster sporadic finite simple group and determine irreducible modules for the baby-monster vertex operator algebra. Our result has many corollaries. In particular, we can prove that the Z_2-orbifold construction with respect to a 2A-involution of the Monster applied to the moonshine vertex operator algebra yields the moonshine vertex operator algebra itself again.
We consider genus one n-point functions for a vertex operator superalgebra with a real grading. We compute all n-point functions for rank one and rank two fermion vertex operator superalgebras. In the rank two fermion case, we obtain all orbifold n-point functions for a twisted module associated with a continuous automorphism generated by a Heisenberg bosonic state. The modular properties of these orbifold n-point functions are given and we describe a generalization of Fay's trisecant identity for elliptic functions.
It is proved that g-rationality of a vertex operator superalgebra V=V_{\bar0}+V_{\bar1} for all g in G imply rationality of V^G, and also imply that each irreducible V^G-module is a submodule of an irreducible g-twisted V-module for some g in G, where G is any finite abelian subgroup of Aut(V). We also prove that for any finite solvable G, rationality of V^G implies g-rationality of V for any g in G.
This paper gives an analogue of A_g(V) theory for a vertex operator superalgebra V and an automorphism g of finite order. The relation between the g-twisted V-modules and A_g(V)-modules is established. It is proved that if V is g-rational, then A_g(V) is finite dimensional semisimple associative algebra and there are only finitely many irreducible g-twisted V-modules.
The notions of N=1 Neveu-Schwarz vertex operator superalgebra over a Grassmann algebra and with odd formal variables and of N=1 Neveu-Schwarz vertex operator superalgebra over a Grassmann algebra and without odd formal variables are introduced, and we show that the respective categories of such objects are isomorphic. The weak supercommutativity and weak associativity properties for an N=1 Neveu-Schwarz vertex operator superalgebra with odd formal variables are established, and we show that in the presence of the other axioms, weak supercommutativity and weak associativity are equivalent to th…
We construct an irrational C_2-cofinite vertex operator algebra associatted to a finite dimensional vector space with a nondegenerate skew-symmetric bilinear form. We also classify its equivalence classes of irreducible modules and determine its automorphism group.
We construct and classify $(1 \; 2\; \cdots \; k)$-twisted $V^{\otimes k}$-modules for $k$ odd and for $V$ a vertex operator superalgebra. This extends previous results of the author, along with Dong and Mason, classifying all permutation-twisted modules for tensor product vertex operator algebras, to the setting of vertex operator superalgebras for odd order permutations. We show why this construction does not extend to the case of permutations of even order in the superalgebra case and how the construction and classification in the even order case is fundamentally different than that for the…
The $\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}$--graded intertwining operators are introduced. We study these operators in the case of ``degenerate'' N=1 minimal models, with the central charge $c=3/2$. The corresponding fusion ring is isomorphic to the Grothendieck ring for the Lie superalgebra ${\mathfrak osp}(1|2)$. We also discus multiplicity--2 fusion rules and logarithmic intertwiners.
We study the trace functions in orbiford theory for Z-graded vertex operator superalgebras and obtain a modular invariance result. More precisely, let V be a C_2-cofinite Z-graded vertex operator superalgebra and G a finite automorphism group of V. Then for any commuting pairs (g,h) in G, the hσ-trace functions associated to the simple g-twisted V-modules are holomorphic in the upper half plane where σis the canonical involution on V coming from the superspace structure of V. If V is further g-rational for every g n G, the trace unctions afford a representation for the full modular group SL(2,…
This paper is to study vertex operator superalgebras which are strongly generated by their weight-$2$ and weight-$\frac{3}{2}$ homogeneous subspaces. Among the main results, it is proved that if such a vertex operator superalgebra $V$ is simple, then $V_{(2)}$ has a canonical commutative associative algebra structure equipped with a non-degenerate symmetric associative bilinear form and $V_{(\frac{3}{2})}$ is naturally a $V_{(2)}$-module equipped with a $V_{(2)}$-valued symmetric bilinear form and a non-degenerate ($\mathbb{C}$-valued) symmetric bilinear form, satisfying a set of conditions. O…
Superconformal change of variables formulas for N=1 Neveu-Schwarz vertex operator superalgebras are presented for general invertible superconformal changes of variables. Using the underlying worldsheet supergeometry of propagating superstrings, geometric proofs of the change of variables formulas are given for the case of convergent superconformal changes of variables. More general formal algebraic proofs of the change of variables formulas in the case of formal superconformal changes of variables are then given. Finally, isomorphic families of N=1 NS-VOSAs are derived from the superconformal …
We investigate a general theory of the Z_2-twisted representations of vertex operator superalgebras. Certain one-to-one correspondence theorems are established. We also give an explicit realization of the Ising model SVOA and its Z_2-twisted modules. As an application, we obtain the Gerald Hoehn's Babymonster SVOA VB and its Z_2-twisted module VB_{tw} from the moonshine VOA V^\nat by cutting off the Ising models. It is also shown in this paper that Aut (VB) is finite.
We study the representation theory of the Kazama-Suzuki coset vertex operator superalgebra associated with the pair of a complex simple Lie algebra and its Cartan subalgebra. In the case of type $A_{1}$, B.L. Feigin, A.M. Semikhatov, and I.Yu. Tipunin introduced another coset construction, which is "inverse" of the Kazama-Suzuki coset construction. In this paper we generalize the latter coset construction to arbitrary type and establish a categorical equivalence between the categories of certain modules over an affine vertex operator algebra and the corresponding Kazama-Suzuki coset vertex ope…
We introduce a subalgebra $\overline F$ of the Clifford vertex superalgebra ($bc$ system) which is completely reducible as a $L^{Vir} (-2,0)$-module, $C_2$-cofinite, but it is not conformal and it is not isomorphic to the symplectic fermion algebra $\mathcal{SF}(1)$. We show that $\mathcal{SF}(1)$ and $\overline{F}$ are in an interesting duality, since $\overline{F}$ can be equipped with the structure of a $\mathcal{SF}(1)$-module and vice versa. Using the decomposition of $\overline F$ and a free-field realization from arXiv:1711.11342, we decompose $L_k(\mathfrak{osp}(1\vert 2))$ at the crit…
We define and compute the continuous orbifold partition function and a generating function for all $n$-point correlation functions for the rank two free fermion vertex operator superalgebra on a genus two Riemann surface formed by self-sewing a torus. The partition function is proportional to an infinite dimensional determinant with entries arising from torus Szego kernel and the generating function is proportional to a finite determinant of genus two Szego kernels. These results follow from an explicit analysis of all torus $n$-point correlation functions for intertwiners of the irreducible m…
Using recent results of the author along with Vander Werf, we present the classification and construction of mirror-twisted modules for N=2 supersymmetric vertex operator superalgebras of the form $V \otimes V$ for the signed transposition mirror map automorphism. In particular, we show that the category of such mirror-twisted sectors for $V\otimes V$ is isomorphic to the category of N=1 Ramond sectors for $V$.
In the present paper, a class of new simple modules over the $N=1$ Ramond algebra are constructed, which are induced from simple modules over some finite dimensional solvable Lie superalgebras. These new modules are simple restricted modules over the $N=1$ Ramond algebra. Combined with the result in \cite{L1}, a classification of simple weak $ψ$-twisted $\bar W(0,c)$-modules under certain conditions is also given. At last, some examples of simple restricted $N=1$ Ramond modules as various versions of Whittaker modules are presented (classical Whittaker modules were studied in \cite{LPX}).
Let $V$ be a vertex operator superalgebra with the natural order 2 automorphism $σ$. Under suitable conditions on $V$, the $σ$-fixed subspace $V_{\bar 0}$ is a vertex operator algebra and the category $C_{V_{\bar 0}}$ of $V_{\bar 0}$-modules is modular tensor category. In this paper, we prove that $C_{V_{\bar 0}}$ is a fermionic modular tensor category and the Müger centralizer $C_{V_{\bar 0}}^0$ of the fermion in $C_{V_{\bar 0}}$ is generated by the irreducible $V_{\bar 0}$-submodules of the $V$-modules. In particular, $C_{V_{\bar 0}}^0$ is a super-modular tensor category and $C_{V_{\bar 0}}$…
We define the partition and $n$-point correlation functions for a vertex operator superalgebra on a genus two Riemann surface formed by sewing two tori together. For the free fermion vertex operator superalgebra we obtain a closed formula for the genus two continuous orbifold partition function in terms of an infinite dimensional determinant with entries arising from torus Szegö kernels. We prove that the partition function is holomorphic in the sewing parameters on a given suitable domain and describe its modular properties. Using the bosonized formalism, a new genus two Jacobi product identi…
