We prove the Verlinde conjecture in the following general form: Let V be a simple vertex operator algebra satisfying the following conditions: (i) The homogeneous subspaces of V of weights less than 0 are 0, the homogeneous subspace of V of weight 0 is spanned by the vacuum and V' is isomorphic to V as a V-module. (ii) Every weak V-module gradable by nonnegative integers is completely reducible. (iii) V is C_2-cofinite. (In the presence of Condition (i), Conditions (ii) and (iii) are equivalent to a single condition, namely, that every weak V-module is completely reducible.) Then the matrices formed by the fusion rules among the irreducible V-modules are diagonalized by the matrix given by the action of the modular transformation τ\mapsto -1/τon the space of characters of irreducible V-modules. Using this result, we obtain the Verlinde formula for the fusion rules. We also prove that the matrix associated to the modular transformation τ\mapsto -1/τis symmetric.
Let V be a simple vertex operator algebra satisfying the following conditions: (i) The homogeneous subspaces of V of weights less than 0 are 0, the homogeneous subspace of V of weight 0 is spanned by the vacuum and V' is isomorphic to V as a V-module. (ii) Every weak V-module gradable by nonnegative integers is completely reducible. (iii) V is C_2-cofinite. We announce a proof of the Verlinde conjecture for V, that is, of the statement that the matrices formed by the fusion rules among irreducible V-modules are diagonalized by the matrix given by the action of the modular transformation τ\maps…
We discover new analytic properties of classical partial and false theta functions and their potential applications to representation theory of W-algebras and vertex algebras in general. More precisely, motivated by clues from conformal field theory, first, we are able to determine modular-like transformation properties of regularized partial and false theta functions. Then, after suitable identification of regularized partial/false theta functions with the characters of atypical modules for the singlet vertex algebra W(2,2p-1), we formulate and prove a Verlinde-type formula for the fusion rul…
We discuss a recent proof by the author of a general version of the Verlinde conjecture in the framework of vertex operator algebras and the application of this result to the construction of modular tensor tensor category structure on the category of modules for a vertex operator algebra.
The rank 1 bosonic ghost vertex algebra, also known as the $βγ$ ghosts, symplectic bosons or Weyl vertex algebra, is a simple example of a conformal field theory which is neither rational, nor $C_2$-cofinite. We identify a module category, denoted category $\mathscr{F}$, which satisfies three necessary conditions coming from conformal field theory considerations: closure under restricted duals, closure under fusion and closure under the action of the modular group on characters. We prove the second of these conditions, with the other two already being known. Further, we show that category $\ma…
Let V be a simple vertex operator algebra satisfying the following conditions: (i) The homogeneous subspaces of V of weights less than 0 are 0, the homogeneous subspace of V of weight 0 is spanned by the vacuum and V' is isomorphic to V as a V-module. Every weak V-module gradable by nonnegative integers is completely reducible. (iii) V is C_2-cofinite. (In the presence of Condition (i), Conditions (ii) and (iii) are equivalent to a single condition, namely, that every weak V-module is completely reducible.) Using the results obtained by the author in the formulation and proof of the general ve…
In vertex algebra theory, fusion rules are described as the dimension of the vector space of intertwining operators between three irreducible modules. We describe fusion rules in the category of weight modules for the Weyl vertex algebra. This way we confirm the conjecture on fusion rules based on the Verlinde algebra. We explicitly construct intertwining operators appearing in the formula for fusion rules. We present a result which relates irreducible weight modules for the Weyl vertex algebra to the irreducible modules for the affine Lie superalgebra $\widehat{gl(1 \vert 1)}$.
This is an expository article invited for the ``Commentary'' section of PNAS in connection with Y.-Z. Huang's article, ``Vertex operator algebras, the Verlinde conjecture, and modular tensor categories,'' appearing in the same issue of PNAS. Huang's solution of the mathematical problem of constructing modular tensor categories from the representation theory of vertex operator algebras is very briefly discussed, along with background material. The hypotheses of the theorems entering into the solution are very general, natural and purely algebraic, and have been verified in a wide range of famil…
Generalizing our ideas in [arXiv:1006.3313], we explain how topologically-twisted N=2 gauge theory on a four-manifold with boundary, will allow us to furnish purely physical proofs of (i) the Atiyah-Floer conjecture, (ii) Munoz's theorem relating quantum and instanton Floer cohomology, (iii) their monopole counterparts, and (iv) their higher rank generalizations. In the case where the boundary is a Seifert manifold, one can also relate its instanton Floer homology to modules of an affine algebra via a 2d A-model with target the based loop group. As an offshoot, we will be able to demonstrate a…
We solve the problem of constructing a genus-zero full conformal field theory (a conformal field theory on genus-zero Riemann surfaces containing both chiral and antichiral parts) from representations of a simple vertex operator algebra satisfying certain natural finiteness and reductive conditions. We introduce a notion of full field algebra which is essentially an algebraic formulation of the notion of genus-zero full conformal field theory. For two vertex operator algebras, their tensor product is naturally a full field algebra and we introduce a notion of full field algebra over such a ten…
In this paper, we study $G$-equivariant tensor categories for a finite group $G$. These categories were introduced by Turaev under the name of $G$-crossed categories; the motivating example of such a category is the category of twisted modules over a vertex operator algebra $V$ with a finite group of automorphisms $G$. We discuss the notion of "orbifold quotient" of such a category (in the example above, this quotient is the category of modules over the subalgebra of invariants $V^G$). We introduce an extended Verlinde algebra for a $G$-equivariant tensor category and give a simple description…
We show that coinvariants of modules over vertex operator algebras give rise to quasi-coherent sheaves on moduli of stable pointed curves. These generalize Verlinde bundles or vector bundles of conformal blocks defined using affine Lie algebras studied first by Tsuchiya-Kanie, Tsuchiya-Ueno-Yamada, and extend work of a number of researchers. The sheaves carry a twisted logarithmic D-module structure, and hence support a projectively flat connection. We identify the logarithmic Atiyah algebra acting on them, generalizing work of Tsuchimoto for affine Lie algebras.
This is the third part of the revised versions of the notes of three consecutive expository lectures given by Chongying Dong, Haisheng Li and Yi-Zhi Huang in the conference on Monster and vertex operator algebras at the Research Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Kyoto, September 4-9, 1994. In this part, we discuss an $S_{3}$-symmetry of the Jacobi identity, construct the contragredient module for a module for a vertex operator algebra and apply these to the construction of the vertex operator map for the moonshine module. We review the notions of intertwining operator, fusion rule and Verlin…
The main result is that the category of ordinary modules of an affine vertex operator algebra of a simply laced Lie algebra at admissible level is rigid and thus a braided fusion category. If the level satisfies a certain coprime property then it is even a modular tensor category. In all cases open Hopf links coincide with the corresponding normalized S-matrix entries of torus one-point functions. This is interpreted as a Verlinde formula beyond rational vertex operator algebras. A preparatory Theorem is a convenient formula for the fusion rules of rational principal W-algebras of any type.
The $\mathcal{B}_p$-algebras are a family of vertex operator algebras parameterized by $p\in \mathbb Z_{\geq 2}$. They are important examples of logarithmic CFTs and appear as chiral algebras of type $(A_1, A_{2p-3})$ Argyres-Douglas theories. The first member of this series, the $\mathcal{B}_2$-algebra, are the well-known symplectic bosons also often called the $βγ$ vertex operator algebra. We study categories related to the $\mathcal{B}_p$ vertex operator algebras using their conjectural relation to unrolled restricted quantum groups of $\mathfrak{sl}_2$. These categories are braided, rigid …
We define cylindric generalisations of skew Macdonald functions when one of their parameters is set to zero. We define these functions as weighted sums over cylindric skew tableaux: fixing two integers n>2 and k>0 we shift an ordinary skew diagram of two partitions, viewed as a subset of the two-dimensional integer lattice, by the period vector (n,-k). Imposing a periodicity condition one defines cylindric skew tableaux as a map from the periodically continued skew diagram into the integers. The resulting cylindric Macdonald functions appear in the coproduct of a commutative Frobenius algebra,…
In this paper, irreducible modules of the diagonal coset vertex operator algebra $C(L_{\mathfrak{g}}(k+l,0),L_{\mathfrak{g}}(k,0)\otimes L_{\mathfrak{g}}(l,0))$ are classified under the assumption that $C(L_{\mathfrak{g}}(k+l,0),L_{\mathfrak{g}}(k,0)\otimes L_{\mathfrak{g}}(l,0))$ is rational, $C_2$-cofinite and certain additional assumption. An explicit modular transformation formula of traces functions of $C(L_{\mathfrak{g}}(k+l,0),L_{\mathfrak{g}}(k,0)\otimes L_{\mathfrak{g}}(l,0))$ is obtained. As an application, the fusion rules of $C(L_{E_8}(k+2,0), L_{E_8}(k,0)\otimes L_{E_8}(2,0))$ are…
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…
We prove a generalized rationality property and a new identity that we call the ``Jacobi identity'' for intertwining operator algebras. Most of the main properties of genus-zero conformal field theories, including the main properties of vertex operator algebras, modules, intertwining operators, Verlinde algebras, and fusing and braiding matrices, are incorporated into this identity. Together with associativity and commutativity for intertwining operators proved by the author in \cite{H2} and \cite{H3}, the results of the present paper solve completely the problem of finding a natural purely al…
We conjecture that the category of permutation-twisted modules for a multi-fold tensor product vertex operator superalgebra and a cyclic permutation of even order is isomorphic to the category of parity-twisted modules for the underlying vertex operator superalgebra. This conjecture is based on our observations of the cyclic permutation-twisted modules for free fermions as we discuss in this work, as well as previous work of the first author constructing and classifying permutation-twisted modules for tensor product vertex operator superalgebras and a permutation of odd order. In addition, we …
We study the Yang-Baxter equation for the $R$-matrices of the six-vertex model. We analyze the solutions and give new parametrizations of the Yang-Baxter equation. In particular, we find the maximal commutative families of parametrized solutions which generalize the $R$-matrices from the affine quantum (super)-groups. Then we give a new parametrization of the Yang-Baxter equation by a groupoid of non-free-fermionic matrices. In the appendix, we study the general algebraic structure of the solutions of the Yang-Baxter and formulate a conjecture that extends the conjecture by Brubaker, Bump, and…
We discuss some basic problems and conjectures in a program to construct general orbifold conformal field theories using the representation theory of vertex operator algebras. We first review a program to construct conformal field theories. We also clarify some misunderstandings on vertex operator algebras, modular functors and intertwining operator algebras. Then we discuss some basic open problems and conjectures in mathematical orbifold conformal field theory. Generalized twisted modules and their variants, their constructions and some existence results are reviewed. Twisted intertwining op…
The invariant subalgebra H^+ of the Heisenberg vertex algebra H under its automorphism group Z/2Z was shown by Dong-Nagatomo to be a W-algebra of type W(2,4). Similarly, the rank n Heisenberg vertex algebra H(n) has the orthogonal group O(n) as its automorphism group, and we conjecture that H(n)^{O(n)} is a W-algebra of type W(2,4,6,...,n^2+3n). We prove our conjecture for n=2 and n=3, and we show that this conjecture implies that H(n)^G is strongly finitely generated for any reductive group G\subset O(n).
We prove a conjecture stated in a previous paper by the author about the existence of canonical filtrations for a family of vertex operator algebras in rational levels.
