Orbifold theory for vertex algebras and Galois correspondence

Abstract

Let $V$ be a simple vertex algebra of countable dimension, $G$ be a finite automorphism group of $V$ and $\sigma$ be a central element of $G$. Assume that ${\cal S}$ is a finite set of inequivalent irreducible $\sigma$-twisted $V$-modules such that ${\cal S}$ is invariant under the action of $G$. Then there is a finite dimensional semisimple associative algebra ${\cal A}_{\alpha}(G,{\cal S})$ for a suitable $2$-cocycle $\alpha$ naturally determined by the $G$-action on ${\cal S}$ such that $({\cal A}_{\alpha}(G,{\cal S}),V^G)$ form a dual pair on the sum $\cal M$ of $\sigma$-twisted $V$-modules in ${\cal S}$ in the sense that (1) the actions of ${\cal A}_{\alpha}(G,{\cal S})$ and $V^G$ on $\cal M$ commute, (2) each irreducible ${\cal A}_{\alpha}(G,{\cal S})$-module appears in $\cal M,$ (3) the multiplicity space of each irreducible ${\cal A}_{\alpha}(G,{\cal S})$-module is an irreducible $V^G$-module, (4) the multiplicitiy spaces of different irreducible ${\cal A}_{\alpha}(G,{\cal S})$-modules are inequivalent $V^G$-modules. As applications, every irreducible $\sigma$-twisted $V$-module is a direct sum of finitely many irreducible $V^G$-modules and irreducible $V^G$-modules appearing in different $G$-orbits are inequivalent. This result generalizes many previous ones. We also establish a bijection between subgroups of $G$ and subalgebras of $V$ containing $V^G.$