Vertex Operators Arising from Linear ODEs

Abstract

The Heisenberg Oscillator Algebra admits irreducible representations both on the ring $B$ of polynomials in infinitely many indeterminates (the {\em bosonic representation}) and on a graded-by-{\em charge} vector space, the {\em semi-infinite} exterior power of an infinite-dimensional ${\mathbf Q}$-vector space $V$ (the {\em fermionic representation}). Our main observation is that $V$ can be realized as the ${\mathbf Q}$-vector space generated by the solutions to a generic linear ODE of {\em infinite order}. Within this framework, the well known {\em boson-fermion} correspondence for the zero charge fermionic space is a consequence of the formula expressing each solution to a linear ODE as a linear combination of the elements of the universal basis of solutions. In this paper we extend the picture for linear ODEs of finite order. Vertex operators are defined and fully described in this case.