Inspired by the Borcherds' work on ``$G$-vertex algebras,'' we formulate and study an axiomatic counterpart of Borcherds' notion of $G$-vertex algebra for the simplest nontrivial elementary vertex group, which we denote by $G_{1}$. Specifically, we formulate a notion of axiomatic $G_{1}$-vertex algebra, prove certain basic properties and give certain examples, where the notion of axiomatic $G_{1}$-vertex algebra is a nonlocal generalization of the notion of vertex algebra. We also show how to construct axiomatic $G_{1}$-vertex algebras from a set of compatible $G_{1}$-vertex operators.
The results of this paper were reported in June 2001, at the International Conference on Lie Algebras in the Morningside center, Beijing, China, and were reported on November 30, 2001, in the Quantum Mathematics Seminar, at Rutgers-New Brunswick. We noticed that a paper of Bakalov and Kac appeared today (math.QA/0204282) on noncommutative generalizations of vertex algebras, which has certain overlaps with the current paper. On the other hand, most of their results are orthogonal to the results of this paper.
In this paper we build an abstract description of vertex algebras from their basic axioms. Starting with Borcherds' notion of a vertex group, we naturally construct a family of multilinear singular maps parameterised by trees. These singular maps are defined in a way which focusses on the relations of singularities to their inputs. In particular we show that this description of a vertex algebra allows us to present generalised notions of rationality, commutativity and associativity as natural consequences of the definition. Finally, we show that for a certain choice of vertex group, axiomatic …
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…
The main goal of this paper is to show that a wide variety of infinite-dimensional algebras all share a common structure, including a triangular decomposition and a theory of weights. This structure allows us to define and study the BGG Category O, generalizing previous definitions of it. Having presented our axiomatic framework, we present sufficient conditions that guarantee finite length, enough projectives, and a block decomposition into highest weight categories. The framework is strictly more general than the usual theory of O; this is needed to accommodate (quantized or higher rank) inf…
The theory of vertex algebras constitutes a mathematically rigorous axiomatic formulation of the algebraic origins of conformal field theory. In this context Borcherds algebras arise as certain ``physical'' subspaces of vertex algebras. The aim of this review is to give a pedagogical introduction into this rapidly-developing area of mathemat% ics. Based on the machinery of formal calculus we present the axiomatic definition of vertex algebras. We discuss the connection with conformal field theory by deriving important implications of these axioms. In particular, many explicit calculations are …
Vertex algebras in higher dimensions provide an algebraic framework for investigating axiomatic quantum field theory with global conformal invariance. We develop further the theory of such vertex algebras by introducing formal calculus techniques and investigating the notion of polylocal fields. We derive a Jacobi identity which together with the vacuum axiom can be taken as an equivalent definition of vertex algebra.
Vertex algebras provide an axiomatic algebraic description of the operator product expansion (OPE) of chiral fields in 2-dimensional conformal field theory. Vertex Lie algebras (= Lie conformal algebras) encode the singular part of the OPE, or, equivalently, the commutators of chiral fields. We discuss generalizations of vertex algebras and vertex Lie algebras, which are relevant for higher-dimensional quantum field theory.
We study intertwining operator algebras introduced and constructed by Huang. In the case that the intertwining operator algebras involve intertwining operators among irreducible modules for their vertex operator subalgebras, a number of results on intertwining operator algebras were given in [H9] but some of the proofs were postponed to an unpublished monograph. In this paper, we give the proofs of these results in [H9] and we formulate and prove results for general intertwining operator algebras without assuming that the modules involved are irreducible. In particular, we construct fusing and…
A new rigorous approach to conformal field theory is presented. The basic objects are families of complex-valued amplitudes, which define a meromorphic conformal field theory (or chiral algebra) and which lead naturally to the definition of topological vector spaces, between which vertex operators act as continuous operators. In fact, in order to develop the theory, Möbius invariance rather than full conformal invariance is required but it is shown that every Möbius theory can be extended to a conformal theory by the construction of a Virasoro field. In this approach, a representation of a con…
This paper studies certain relations among vertex algebras, vertex Lie algebras and vertex Poisson algebras. In this paper, the notions of vertex Lie algebra (conformal algebra) and vertex Poisson algebra are revisited and certain general construction theorems of vertex Poisson algebras are given. A notion of filtered vertex algebra is formulated in terms of a notion of good filtration and it is proved that the associated graded vector space of a filtered vertex algebra is naturally a vertex Poisson algebra. For any vertex algebra $V$, a general construction and a classification of good filtra…
Herein we study conformal vectors of a Z-graded vertex algebra of (strong) CFT type. We prove that the full vertex algebra automorphism group transitively acts on the set of the conformal vectors of strong CFT type if the vertex algebra is simple. The statement is equivalent to the uniqueness of self-dual vertex operator algebra structures of a simple vertex algebra. As an application, we show that the full vertex algebra automorphism group of a simple vertex operator algebra of strong CFT type uniquely decomposes into the product of certain two subgroups and the vertex operator algebra automo…
In this paper, we study Virasoro vertex algebras and affine vertex algebras over a general field of characteristic $p>2$. More specifically, we study certain quotients of the universal Virasoro and affine vertex algebras by ideals related to the $p$-centers of the Virasoro algebra and affine Lie algebras. Among the main results, we classify their irreducible $\mathbb{N}$-graded modules by explicitly determining their Zhu algebras and show that these vertex algebras have only finitely many irreducible $\mathbb{N}$-graded modules and they are $C_2$-cofinite.
We first investigate the algebraic structure of vertex algebroids $B$ when $B$ are simple Leibniz algebras. Next, we use these vertex algebroids $B$ to construct indecomposable non-simple $C_2$-cofinite $\mathbb{N}$-graded vertex algebras $\overline{V_B}$. In addition, we classify $\mathbb{N}$-graded irreducible $\overline{V_B}$-modules and examine conformal vectors of these $\mathbb{N}$-graded vertex algebras $\overline{V_B}$.
We show that certain vertex algebras without vacuum vector may be embedded into vertex algebras. The result is a partial analogue of the simple classical fact that any rng can be embedded into a ring. A one-line proof of the case of a vacuum-free vertex algebra (whose vertex operator map is by definition injective) appeared in Robinson (2010) using a powerful result from the representation theory of vertex algebras as algebras of mutually local weak vertex operators. Here we present a more elementary proof of a somewhat more general case. We also show that our constructions are canonical.
We introduce dg Lie algebras controlling the deformations of vertex algebras and vertex Poisson algebras, utilizing the notion of operadic dg Lie algebra and the theory of chiral algebra. In terms of those dg Lie algebras, we formulate the deformation quantization problem of vertex Poisson algebras to vertex algebras.
In this paper, we study a notion of what we call vertex Leibniz algebra. This notion naturally extends that of vertex algebra without vacuum, which was previously introduced by Huang and Lepowsky. We show that every vertex algebra without vacuum can be naturally extended to a vertex algebra. On the other hand, we show that a vertex Leibniz algebra can be embedded into a vertex algebra if and only if it admits a faithful module. To each vertex Leibniz algebra we associate a vertex algebra without vacuum which is universal to the forgetful functor. Furthermore, from any Leibniz algebra $\g$ we c…
In this paper we introduce a notion of vertex Lie algebra U, in a way a "half" of vertex algebra structure sufficient to construct the corresponding local Lie algebra L(U) and a vertex algebra V(U). We show that we may consider U as a subset of V(U) which generates V(U) and that the vertex Lie algebra structure on U is induced by the vertex algebra structure on V(U). Moreover, for any vertex algebra V a given homomorphism from U to V of vertex Lie algebras extends uniquely to a homomorphism from V(U) to V of vertex algebras. In the second part of paper we study under what conditions on structu…
In present paper, some properties of Hopf action on vertex algebras will be given. We prove that $V#H$ is an $\mathcal{S}$-local vertex algebra but it is not a vertex algebra when $V$ is an $H$-module vertex algebra. In addition, we extend the $\mathcal{S}$-locality to the quantum vertex algebras.
We continue with [LY] to construct and classify graded simple twisted modules for the $\N$-graded vertex algebras constructed by Gorbounov, Malikov and Schechtman from vertex algebroids. Meanwhile we determine the full automorphism groups of those $\N$-graded vertex algebras in terms of the automorphism groups of the corresponding vertex algebroids.
This is a paper in a series systematically to study toroidal vertex algebras. Previously, a theory of toroidal vertex algebras and modules was developed and toroidal vertex algebras were explicitly associated to toroidal Lie algebras. In this paper, we study twisted modules for toroidal vertex algebras. More specifically, we introduce a notion of twisted module for a general toroidal vertex algebra with a finite order automorphism and we give a general construction of toroidal vertex algebras and twisted modules. We then use this construction to establish a natural association of toroidal vert…
In this paper, a new construction of vertex algebras from more general vertex operators is given and a notion of quasi module for vertex algebras is introduced and studied. More specifically, a notion of quasi local subset(space) of $\Hom (W,W((x)))$ for any vector space $W$ is introduced and studied, generalizing the notion of usual locality in the most possible way, and it is proved that on any maximal quasi local subspace there exists a natural vertex algebra structure and that any quasi local subset of $\Hom (W,W((x)))$ generates a vertex algebra. Furthermore, a notion of quasi module for …
We give a notation of Krichever-Novikov vertex algebras on compact Riemann surfaces which is a bit weaker, but quite similar to vertex algebras. As example, we construct Krichever-Novikov vertex algebras of generalized Heisenberg algebras on arbitrary compact Riemann surfaces, which are reduced to be Heisenberg vertex algebra when restricted on Riemann spheres.
In this paper, we give a unified construction of vertex algebras arising from infinite-dimensional Lie algebras, including the affine Kac-Moody algebras, Virasoro algebras, Heisenberg algebras and their higher rank analogs, orbifolds and deformations. We define a notion of what we call quasi vertex Lie algebra to unify these Lie algebras. Starting from any (maximal) quasi vertex Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$, we construct a corresponding vertex Lie algebra ${\mathfrak{g}}_0$, and establish a canonical isomorphism between the category of restricted $\mathfrak{g}$-modules and that of equivariant $ϕ…
We develop a theory of toroidal vertex algebras and their modules, and we give a conceptual construction of toroidal vertex algebras and their modules. As an application, we associate toroidal vertex algebras and their modules to toroidal Lie algebras.
It is proved that for a vector space W, any set of parafermion-like vertex operators on W in a certain canonical way generates a generalized vertex algebra in the sense of [DL2] with W as a natural module. This result generalizes a result of [Li2]. As an application, generalized vertex algebras are constructed from Lepowsky-Wilson's Z-algebras of any nonzero level.
We give a summary of the theory of (weak) quantum vertex $\C((t))$-algebras and the association of quantum affine algebras with (weak) quantum vertex $\C((t))$-algebras.
Unitary vertex operator algebras are introduced and studied. It is proved that most well-known rational vertex operator algebras are unitary. The classification of unitary vertex operator algebras with central charge c less than or equal to 1 is also discussed.
Let $A$ be a finite dimensional unital commutative associative algebra and let $B$ be a finite dimensional vertex $A$-algebroid such that its Levi factor is isomorphic to $sl_2$. Under suitable conditions, we construct an indecomposable non-simple $\mathbb{N}$-graded vertex algebra $\overline{V_B}$ from the $\mathbb{N}$-graded vertex algebra $V_B$ associated with the vertex $A$-algebroid $B$. We show that this indecomposable non-simple $\mathbb{N}$-graded vertex algebra $\overline{V_B}$ is $C_2$-cofinite and has only two irreducible modules.
This paper illustrates the combinatorial approach to vertex algebra - study of vertex algebras presented by generators and relations. A necessary ingredient of this method is the notion of free vertex algebra. Borcherds \cite{bor} was the first to note that free vertex algebras do not exist in general. The reason for this is that vertex algebras do not form a variety of algebras, because the locality axiom (see sec 2 below) is not an identity. However, a certain subcategory of vertex algebras, obtained by restricting the order of locality of generators, has a universal object, which we call th…
We study the family of vertex algebras associated with vertex algebroids, constructed by Gorbounov, Malikov, and Schechtman. As the main result, we classify all the (graded) simple modules for such vertex algebras and we show that the equivalence classes of graded simple modules one-to-one correspond to the equivalence classes of simple modules for the Lie algebroids associated with the vertex algebroids. To achieve our goal, we construct and exploit a Lie algebra from a given vertex algebroid.
We study twisted modules for (weak) quantum vertex algebras and we give a conceptual construction of (weak) quantum vertex algebras and their twisted modules. As an application we construct and classify irreducible twisted modules for a certain family of quantum vertex algebras.
In this paper, we study contragredient duals and invariant bilinear forms for modular vertex algebras (in characteristic $p$). We first introduce a bialgebra $\mathcal{H}$ and we then introduce a notion of $\mathcal{H}$-module vertex algebra and a notion of $(V,\mathcal{H})$-module for an $\mathcal{H}$-module vertex algebra $V$. Then we give a modular version of Frenkel-Huang-Lepowsky's theory and study invariant bilinear forms on an $\mathcal{H}$-module vertex algebra. As the main results, we obtain an explicit description of the space of invariant bilinear forms on a general $\mathcal{H}$-mo…
A notion of intermediate vertex subalgebras of lattice vertex operator algebras is introduced, as a generalization of the notion of principal subspaces. Bases and the graded dimensions of such subalgebras are given.As an application, it is shown that the characters of some modules of an intermediate vertex subalgebra between $E_7$ and $E_8$ lattice vertex operator algebras satisfy some modular differential equations.This result is an analogue of the result concerning the "hole" of the Deligne dimension formulas and the intermediate Lie algebra between the simple Lie algebras $E_7$ and $E_8$.
If a vertex operator algebra $V=\oplus_{n=0}^{\infty}V_n$ satisfies $\dim V_0=1, V_1=0$, then $V_2$ has a commutative (nonassociative) algebra structure called Griess algebra. One of the typical examples of commutative (nonassociative) algebras is a Jordan algebra. For example, the set $Sym_d(\C)$ of symmetric matrices of degree $d$ becomes a Jordan algebra. On the other hand, in the theory of vertex operator algebras, central charges influence the properties of vertex operator algebras. In this paper, we construct vertex operator algebras with central charge $c$ and its Griess algebra is isom…
We give a survey on the developments in a certain theory of quantum vertex algebras, including a conceptual construction of quantum vertex algebras and their modules and a connection of double Yangians and Zamolodchikov-Faddeev algebras with quantum vertex algebras.
In this paper it is shown that every irreducible vertex algebra of countable dimension and every simple vertex operator algebra are nondegenerate in the sense of Etingof and Kazhdan.
We associate elliptic affine Lie algebras with what are called vertex $\C((z))$-algebras and their modules in a certain category. In the course, we construct two families of Lie algebras closely related to elliptic affine Lie algebras.
In this paper, we study nullity-2 toroidal extended affine Lie algebras in the context of vertex algebras and their $ϕ$-coordinated modules. Among the main results, we introduce a variant of toroidal extended affine Lie algebras, associate vertex algebras to the variant Lie algebras, and establish a canonical connection between modules for toroidal extended affine Lie algebras and $ϕ$-coordinated modules for these vertex algebras. Furthermore, by employing some results of Billig, we obtain an explicit realization of irreducible modules for the variant Lie algebras.
In this paper we study the representation theory for certain ``half lattice vertex algebras.'' In particular we construct a large class of irreducible modules for these vertex algebras. We also discuss how the representation theory of these vertex algebras are related to the representation theory of some associative algebras.
To every vertex algebra $V$ we associate a canonical decreasing sequence of subspaces and prove that the associated graded vector space $gr(V)$ is naturally a vertex Poisson algebra, in particular a commutative vertex algebra. We establish a relation between this sequence and the sequence $C_{n}$ introduced by Zhu. By using the (classical) algebra $gr(V)$, we prove that for any vertex algebra $V$, $C_{2}$-cofiniteness implies $C_{n}$-cofiniteness for all $n\ge 2$. We further use $gr(V)$ to study generating subspaces of certain types for lower truncated $Z$-graded vertex algebras.
We continue a previous study on $Γ$-vertex algebras and their quasimodules. In this paper we refine certain known results and we prove that for any $\Z$-graded vertex algebra $V$ and a positive integer $N$, the category of $V$-modules is naturally isomorphic to the category of quasimodules of a certain type for $V^{\otimes N}$. We also study certain generalizations of twisted affine Lie algebras and we relate such Lie algebras to vertex algebras and their quasimodules, in a way similar to that twisted affine Lie algebras are related to vertex algebras and their twisted modules.
I show that simple finite vertex algebras are commutative, and that the Lie conformal algebra structure underlying a reduced (i.e., without nilpotent elements) finite vertex algebra is nilpotent.
In this paper, for every one-dimensional formal group $F$ we formulate and study a notion of vertex $F$-algebra and a notion of $ϕ$-coordinated module for a vertex $F$-algebra where $ϕ$ is what we call an associate of $F$. In the case that $F$ is the additive formal group, vertex $F$-algebras are exactly ordinary vertex algebras. We give a canonical isomorphism between the category of vertex $F$-algebras and the category of ordinary vertex algebras. Meanwhile, for every formal group we completely determine its associates. We also study $ϕ$-coordinated modules for a general vertex $\Z$-graded a…
We study the properties of shifted vertex operator algebras, which are vertex algebras derived from a given theory by shifting the conformal vector. In this way, we are able to exhibit large numbers of vertex operator algebras which are regular(rational and C_2-cofinite) and yet are pathological in one way or another.
In this paper, we study a new kind of vertex operator algebra related to the twisted Heisenberg-Virasoro algebra, which we call the twisted Heisenberg-Virasoro vertex operator algebra, and its modules. Specifically, we present some results concerning the relationship between the restricted module categories of twisted Heisenberg-Virasoro algebras of rank one and rank two and several different kinds of module categories of their corresponding vertex algebras. We also study fully the structures of the twisted Heisenberg-Virasoro vertex operator algebra, give a characterization of it as a tensor …
The extensions of the affine vertex operator algebras $L_{sl_2}(k,0)$ and the preunitary vertex operator algebras with central charges $c<1$ are classified. In particular, the unitary vertex operator algebras with central charges $c<1$ are classified.
In this paper, we associate quantum vertex algebras to a certain family of associative algebras $\widetilde{\A}(g)$ which are essentially Ding-Iohara algebras. To do this, we introduce another closely related family of associative algebras $\A(h)$. The associated quantum vertex algebras are based on the vacuum modules for $\A(h)$, whereas $ϕ$-coordinated modules for these quantum vertex algebras are associated to $\widetilde{A}(g)$-modules. Furthermore, we classify their irreducible $ϕ$-coordinated modules.
The mirror extensions for vertex operator algebras are studied. Two explicit examples which are not simple current extensions of some affine vertex operator algebras of type $A$ are given.
In this article, we describe a construction of a holomorphic vertex operator algebras of central charge $24$ whose weight one Lie algebra has type $A_{6,7}$.
We generalize Feigin and Miwa's construction of extended vertex operator (super)algebras $A_{k}(sl(2))$ for other types of simple Lie algebras. For all the constructed extended vertex operator (super)algebras, irreducible modules are classified, complete reducibility of every module is proved and fusion rules are determined modulo the fusion rules for vertex operator algebras of affine type.
For a C1-cofinite vertex algebra V, we give an efficient way to calculate Zhu's algebra A(V) of V with respect to its C1-generators and relations. We use two examples to explain how this method works.
We develop a theory of $ϕ$-coordinated (quasi) modules for a nonlocal vertex algebra and we establish a conceptual construction of nonlocal vertex algebras and their $ϕ$-coordinated (quasi) modules, where $ϕ$ is what we call an associate of the one-dimensional additive formal group. By specializing $ϕ$ to a particular associate, we obtain a new construction of weak quantum vertex algebras in the sense of \cite{li-qva1}. As an application, we associate weak quantum vertex algebras to quantum affine algebras, and we also associate quantum vertex algebras and $ϕ$-coordinated modules to a certain …
We give a natural extension of the notion of the contragredient module for a vertex operator algebra. By using this extension we prove that for regular vertex operator algebras, Zhu's $C_{2}$-finiteness condition holds, fusion rules are finite and the vertex operator algebras themselves are finitely generated.
We propose an extension of the definition of vertex algebras in arbitrary space-time dimensions together with their basic structure theory. An one-to-one correspondence between these vertex algebras and axiomatic quantum field theory (QFT) with global conformal invariance (GCI) is constructed.
It is proved that the regularity of parafermion vertex operator algebras associated to integrable highest weight modules for affine Kac-Moody algebra A_1^{(1)} implies the C_2-cofiniteness of parafermion vertex operator algebras associated to integrable highest weight modules for any affine Kac-Moody algebra. In particular, the parafermion vertex operator algebra associated to an integrable highest weight module of small level for any affine Kac-Moody algebra is C_2-cofinite and has only finitely many irreducible modules. Also, the parafermion vertex operator algebras with level 1 are determin…
