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A. M. Semikhatov

Publications and source records attributed to A. M. Semikhatov.

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Logarithmic ^sl(2) CFT models from Nichols algebras. 1

We construct chiral algebras that centralize rank-two Nichols algebras with at least one fermionic generator. This gives "logarithmic" W-algebra extensions of a fractional-level ^sl(2) algebra. We discuss crucial aspects of the emerging general relation between Nichols algebras and logarithmic CFT models: (i) the extra input, beyond the Nichols algebra proper, needed to uniquely specify a conformal model; (ii) a relation between the CFT counterparts of Nichols algebras connected by Weyl groupoid maps; and (iii) the common double bosonization U(X) of such Nichols algebras. For an extended chiral algebra, candidates for its simple modules that are counterparts of the U(X) simple modules are proposed, as a first step toward a functorial relation between U(X) and W-algebra representation categories.

math.QA

Virasoro central charges for Nichols algebras

A Virasoro central charge can be associated with each Nichols algebra with diagonal braiding in a way that is invariant under the Weyl groupoid action. The central charge takes very suggestive values for some items in Heckenberger's list of rank-2 Nichols algebras. In particular, this might be viewed as an indication of the existence of reasonable logarithmic extensions of W_3==WA_2, WB_2, and WG_2 models of conformal field theory. In the W_3 case, the construction of an octuplet extended algebra---a counterpart of the triplet (1,p) algebra---is outlined.

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Fusion in the entwined category of Yetter--Drinfeld modules of a rank-1 Nichols algebra

We rederive a popular nonsemisimple fusion algebra in the braided context, from a Nichols algebra. Together with the decomposition that we find for the product of simple Yetter-Drinfeld modules, this strongly suggests that the relevant Nichols algebra furnishes an equivalence with the triplet W-algebra in the (p,1) logarithmic models of conformal field theory. For this, the category of Yetter-Drinfeld modules is to be regarded as an \textit{entwined} category (the one with monodromy, but not with braiding).

math.QA

The Nichols algebra of screenings

Two related constructions are associated with screening operators in models of two-dimensional conformal field theory. One is a local system constructed in terms of the braided vector space X spanned by the screening species in a given CFT model and the space of vertex operators Y and the other is the Nichols algebra B(X) and the category of its Yetter--Drinfeld modules, which we propose as an algebraic counterpart, in a "braided" version of the Kazhdan--Lusztig duality, of the representation category of vertex-operator algebras realized in logarithmic CFT models.

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Yetter--Drinfeld structures on Heisenberg doubles and chains

For a Hopf algebra B with bijective antipode, we show that the Heisenberg double H(B^*) is a braided commutative Yetter--Drinfeld module algebra over the Drinfeld double D(B). The braiding structure allows generalizing H(B^*) = B^{*cop}\braid B to "Heisenberg n-tuples" and "chains" ...\braid B^{*cop}\braid B \braid B^{*cop}\braid B\braid..., all of which are Yetter--Drinfeld D(B)-module algebras. For B a particular Taft Hopf algebra at a 2p-th root of unity, the construction is adapted to yield Yetter--Drinfeld module algebras over the 2p^3-dimensional quantum group U_qsl(2).

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Nonsemisimple Fusion Algebras and the Verlinde Formula

We find a nonsemisimple fusion algebra F_p associated with each (1,p) Virasoro model. We present a nonsemisimple generalization of the Verlinde formula which allows us to derive F_p from modular transformations of characters.

hep-th

Associativity and Operator Hamiltonian Quantization of Gauge Theories

We show that the associative algebra structure can be incorporated in the BRST quantization formalism for gauge theories such that extension from the corresponding Lie algebra to the associative algebra is achieved using operator quantization of reducible gauge theories. The BRST differential that encodes the associativity of the algebra multiplication is constructed as a second-order quadratic differential operator on the bar resolution.

math.QA

Logarithmic Conformal Field Theories via Logarithmic Deformations

We construct logarithmic conformal field theories starting from an ordinary conformal field theory -- with a chiral algebra C and the corresponding space of states V -- via a two-step construction: i) deforming the chiral algebra representation on V\tensor End K[[z,1/z]], where K is an auxiliary finite-dimensional vector space, and ii) extending C by operators corresponding to the endomorphisms End K. For K=C^2, with End K being the two-dimensional Clifford algebra, our construction results in extending C by an operator that can be thought of as \partial^{-1}E, where \oint E is a fermionic screening. This covers the (2,p) Virasoro minimal models as well as the sl(2) WZW theory.

hep-th

Affine sl(2|1) and D(2|1;alpha) as Vertex Operator Extensions of Dual Affine sl(2) Algebras

We discover a realisation of the affine Lie superalgebra sl(2|1) and of the exceptional affine superalgebra D(2|1;alpha) as vertex operator extensions of two affine sl(2) algebras with dual levels (and an auxiliary level 1 sl(2) algebra). The duality relation between the levels is (k+1)(k'+1)=1. We construct the representation of sl(2|1) at level k' on a sum of tensor products of sl(2) at level k, sl(2) at level k' and sl(2) at level 1 modules and decompose it into a direct sum over the sl(2|1) spectral flow orbit. This decomposition gives rise to character identities, which we also derive. The extension of the construction to the affine D(2|1;k') at level k is traced to properties of sl(2)+sl(2)+sl(2) embeddings into D(2|1;alpha) and their relation with the dual sl(2) pairs. Conversely, we show how the level k' sl(2) representations are constructed from level k sl(2|1) representations.

hep-th

BRST Formalism and Zero Locus Reduction

In the BRST quantization of gauge theories, the zero locus $Z_Q$ of the BRST differential $Q$ carries an (anti)bracket whose parity is opposite to that of the fundamental bracket. We show that the on-shell BFV/BV gauge symmetries are in a 1:1 correspondence with Hamiltonian vector fields on $Z_Q$, and observables of the BRST theory are in a 1:1 correspondence with characteristic functions of the bracket on $Z_Q$. By reduction to the zero locus, we obtain relations between bracket operations and differentials arising in different complexes (the Gerstenhaber, Schouten, Berezin-Kirillov, and Sklyanin brackets); the equation ensuring the existence of a nilpotent vector field on the reduced manifold can be the classical Yang-Baxter equation. We also generalize our constructions to the bi-QP-manifolds which from the BRST theory viewpoint corresponds to the BRST-anti-BRST-symmetric quantization.

hep-th

Verma Modules, Extremal Vectors, and Singular Vectors on the Non-Critical N=2 String Worldsheet

We formulate the general construction for singular vectors in Verma modules of the affine sl(2|1) superalgebra. We then construct sl(2|1) representations out of the fields of the non-critical N=2 string. This allows us to extend naturally to sl(2|1) several crucial properties of the N=2 superconformal algebra, first of all the construction of extremal states (an analogue of different pictures for non-free fermions) and the spectral flow transform (which then affects the Liouville sector). We further evaluate the affine sl(2|1) singular vectors in the realization of sl(2|1) provided by the N=2 string. We establish that, with a notable exception, the respective singular vectors are in a 2:1 correspondence, namely two different sl(2|1) singular vectors evaluate as an N=2 superconformal singular vector (however, those singular vectors that are labelled by a pair of positive integers get these integers transposed under the reduction). We also analyse the `exceptional' cases, which amount to a series of sl(2|1) singular vectors, labelled by r>=1, which do not have an N=2 counterpart, and discuss the mechanism by which the multiplicity of singular vectors becomes equal to two at certain points in the weight spaces of both algebras.

hep-th

The MFF Singular Vectors in Topological Conformal Theories

It is argued that singular vectors of the topological conformal (twisted $N=2$) algebra are identical with singular vectors of the $sl(2)$ Kac--Moody algebra. An arbitrary matter theory can be dressed by additional fields to make up a representation of either the $sl(2)$ current algebra or the topological conformal algebra. The relation between the two constructions is equivalent to the Kazama--Suzuki realisation of a topological conformal theory as $sl(2)\oplus u(1)/u(1)$. The Malikov--Feigin--Fuchs (MFF) formula for the $sl(2)$ singular vectors translates into a general expression for topological singular vectors. The MFF/topological singular states are observed to vanish in Witten's free-field construction of the (twisted) $N=2$ algebra, derived from the Landau--Ginzburg formalism.

hep-th

d\leq1\bigcup d\geq25$ and Constrained KP Hierarchy from BRST Invariance in the $c\neq3$ Topological Algebra

The BRST invariance condition in a highest-weight representation of the topological ($\equiv$ twisted $N=2$) algebra captures the `invariant' content of two-dimensional gravity coupled to matter. The standard DDK formulation is recovered by splitting the topological generators into $c=-26$ reparametrization ghosts+matter +`Liouville', while a similar splitting involving $c=-2$ ghosts gives rise to the matter dressed in exactly the way required in order that the theory be equivalent to Virasoro constraints on the KP hierarchy. The two dressings of matter with the `Liouville' differ also by their `ghost numbers', which is similar to the existence of representatives of BRST cohomologies with different ghost numbers. The topological central charge $\ctop\neq3$ provides a two-fold covering of the allowed region $d\leq1\cup d\geq25$ of the matter central charge $d$ via $d=(\ctop+1)(\ctop+6)/(\ctop-3)$. The `Liouville' field is identified as the ghost-free part of the topological $U(1)$ current. The construction thus allows one to establish a direct relation (presumably an equivalence) between the Virasoro-constrained KP hierarchies, minimal models, and the BRST invariance condition for highest-weight states of the topological algebra.

hep-th

Solving Virasoro Constraints on Integrable Hierarchies via the Kontsevich-Miwa Transform

We solve Virasoro constraints on the KP hierarchy in terms of minimal conformal models. The constraints we start with are implemented by the Virasoro generators depending on a background charge $Q$. Then the solutions to the constraints are given by the theory which has the same field content as the David-Distler-Kawai theory: it consists of a minimal matter scalar with background charge $Q$, dressed with an extra `Liouville' scalar. The construction is based on a generalization of the Kontsevich parametrization of the KP times achieved by introducing into it Miwa parameters which depend on the value of $Q$. Under the thus defined Kontsevich-Miwa transformation, the Virasoro constraints are proven to be equivalent to a master equation depending on the parameter $Q$. The master equation is further identified with a null-vector decoupling equation. We conjecture that $W^{(n)}$ constraints on the KP hierarchy are similarly related to a level-$n$ decoupling equation. We also consider the master equation for the $N$-reduced KP hierarchies. Several comments are made on a possible relation of the generalized master equation to {\it scaled} Kontsevich-type matrix integrals and on the form the equation takes in higher genera.

hep-th

A Conformal Field Theory Formalism from Integrable Hierarchies via the Kontsevich--Miwa Transform

We attempt a direct derivation of a conformal field theory description of 2D quantum gravity~+~matter from the formalism of integrable hierarchies subjected to Virasoro constraints. The construction is based on a generalization of the Kontsevich parametrization of the KP times by introducing Miwa parameters into it. The resulting Kontsevich--Miwa transform can be applied to the Virasoro constraints provided the Miwa parameters are related to the background charge $Q$ of the Virasoro generators on the hierarchy. We then recover the field content of the David-Distler-Kawai formalism, with the matter theory represented by a scalar with the background charge $Q_m=Q-{Q\over 2}$. In particular, the tau function is related to the correlator of a product of the `21' operators of the minimal model with central charge $d=1-3Q_m^2$.

hep-th

Virasoro Action and Virasoro Constraints on Integrable Hierarchies of the $r$-Matrix Type

For a large class of hierarchies of integrable equations admitting a classical $r-$matrix, we propose a construction for the Virasoro algebra actionon the Lax operators which commutes with the hierarchy flows. The construction relies on the existence of dressing transformations associated to the $r$-matrix and does not involve the notion of a tau function. The dressing-operator form of the Virasoro action gives the corresponding formulation of the Virasoro constraints on hierarchies of the $r-$matrix type. We apply the general construction to several examples which include KP, Toda and generalized KdV hierarchies, the latter both in scalar and the Drinfeld-Sokolov formalisms. We prove the consistency of Virasoro action on the scalar and matrix (Drinfeld-Sokolov) Lax operators, and make an observation on the difference in the form of string equations in the two formalisms.

hep-th

Kontsevich - Miwa Transform of the Virasoro Constraints as Null-Vector Decoupling Equations

We use the Kontsevich--Miwa transform to relate the Virasoro constraints on integrable hierarchies with the David-Distler-Kawai formalism of gravity-coupled conformal theories. The derivation relies on evaluating the energy-momentum tensor on the hierarchy at special values of the spectral parameter. We thus obtain in the Kontsevich parametrization the `master equations' which implement the Virasoro constraints and at the same time coincide with null-vector decoupling equations in an `auxiliary' conformal field theory on the complex plane of the spectral parameter. This gives the operators their gravitational scaling dimensions (for one out of four possibilities to choose signs), with the $α_+$ being equal to the background charge $Q$ of an abstract $bc$ system underlying the structure of the Virasoro constraints. The formalism also generalizes to the $N$-KdV hierarchies.

hep-th