arXiv subjects

Simon Wood

Publications and source records attributed to Simon Wood.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

On Regularised Quantum Dimensions of the Singlet Vertex Operator Algebra and False Theta Functions

We study a family of non-C2-cofinite vertex operator algebras, called the singlet vertex operator algebras, and connect several important concepts in the theory of vertex operator algebras, quantum modular forms, and modular tensor categories. More precisely, starting from explicit formulae for characters of modules over the singlet vertex operator algebra, which can be expressed in terms of false theta functions and their derivatives, we first deform these characters by using a complex parameter ε. We then apply modular trans- formation properties of regularised partial theta functions to study asymptotic behaviour of regularised characters of irreducible modules and compute their regularised quantum dimensions. We also give a purely geometric description of the regularisation parameter as a uniformisation parameter of the fusion variety coming from atypical blocks. It turns out that the quantum dimensions behave very differently depending on the sign of the real part of ε. The map from the space of characters equipped with the Verlinde product to the space of regularised quantum dimensions turns out to be a genuine ring isomorphism for positive real part of ε while for sufficiently negative real part of ε its surjective image gives the fusion ring of a rational vertex operator algebra. The category of modules of this rational vertex operator algebra should be viewed as obtained through the process of a semi-simplification procedure widely used in the theory of quantum groups. Interestingly, the modular tensor category structure constants of this vertex operator algebra, can be also detected from vector valued quantum modular forms formed by distinguished atypical characters.

math.QA↗

arXiv2015

Relaxed singular vectors, Jack symmetric functions and fractional level $\widehat{\mathfrak{sl}}(2)$ models

The fractional level models are (logarithmic) conformal field theories associated with affine Kac-Moody (super)algebras at certain levels $k \in \mathbb{Q}$. They are particularly noteworthy because of several longstanding difficulties that have only recently been resolved. Here, Wakimoto's free field realisation is combined with the theory of Jack symmetric functions to analyse the fractional level $\widehat{\mathfrak{sl}}(2)$ models. The first main results are explicit formulae for the singular vectors of minimal grade in relaxed Wakimoto modules. These are closely related to the minimal grade singular vectors in relaxed (parabolic) Verma modules. Further results include an explicit presentation of Zhu's algebra and an elegant new proof of the classification of simple relaxed highest weight modules over the corresponding vertex operator algebra. These results suggest that generalisations to higher rank fractional level models are now within reach.

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arXiv2015

The Verlinde formula in logarithmic CFT

In rational conformal field theory, the Verlinde formula computes the fusion coefficients from the modular S-transformations of the characters of the chiral algebra's representations. Generalising this formula to logarithmic models has proven rather difficult for a variety of reasons. Here, a recently proposed formalism (arXiv:1303.0847 [hep-th]) for the modular properties of certain classes of logarithmic theories is reviewed, and refined, using simple examples. A formalism addressing fusion rules in simple current extensions is also reviewed as a means to tackle logarithmic theories to which the proposed modular formalism does not directly apply.

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arXiv2014

From Jack polynomials to minimal model spectra

In this note, a deep connection between free field realisations of conformal field theories and symmetric polynomials is presented. We give a brief introduction into the necessary prerequisites of both free field realisations and symmetric polynomials, in particular Jack symmetric polynomials. Then we combine these two fields to classify the irreducible representations of the minimal model vertex operator algebras as an illuminating example of the power of these methods. While these results on the representation theory of the minimal models are all known, this note exploits the full power of Jack polynomials to present significant simplifications of the original proofs in the literature.

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arXiv2014

Bosonic Ghosts at $c=2$ as a Logarithmic CFT

Motivated by Wakimoto free field realisations, the bosonic ghost system of central charge $c=2$ is studied using a recently proposed formalism for logarithmic conformal field theories. This formalism addresses the modular properties of the theory with the aim being to determine the (Grothendieck) fusion coefficients from a variant of the Verlinde formula. The key insight, in the case of bosonic ghosts, is to introduce a family of parabolic Verma modules which dominate the spectrum of the theory. The results include S-transformation formulae for characters, non-negative integer Verlinde coefficients, and a family of modular invariant partition functions. The logarithmic nature of the corresponding ghost theories is explicitly verified using the Nahm-Gaberdiel-Kausch fusion algorithm.

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arXiv2014

On the extended W-algebra of type sl_2 at positive rational level

The extended W-algebra of type sl_2 at positive rational level, denoted by M_{p_+,p_-}, is a vertex operator algebra that was originally proposed in [1]. This vertex operator algebra is an extension of the minimal model vertex operator algebra and plays the role of symmetry algebra for certain logarithmic conformal field theories. We give a construction of M_{p_+,p_-} in terms of screening operators and use this construction to prove that M_{p_+,p_-} satisfies Zhu's c_2-cofiniteness condition, calculate the structure of the zero mode algebra (also known as Zhu's algebra) and classify all simple M_{p_+,p_-}-modules.

math.QA↗

arXiv2014

Modular Transformations and Verlinde Formulae for Logarithmic $(p_+,p_-)$-Models

The $(p_+,p_-)$ singlet algebra is a vertex operator algebra that is strongly generated by a Virasoro field of central charge $1-6(p_+-p_-)^2/p_+p_-$ and a single Virasoro primary field of conformal weight $(2p_+-1)(2p_--1)$. Here, the modular properties of the characters of the uncountably many simple modules of each singlet algebra are investigated and the results used as the input to a continuous analogue of the Verlinde formula to obtain the "fusion rules" of the singlet modules. The effect of the failure of fusion to be exact in general is studied at the level of Verlinde products and the rules derived are lifted to the $(p_+,p_-)$ triplet algebras by regarding these algebras as simple current extensions of their singlet cousins. The result is a relatively effortless derivation of the triplet "fusion rules" that agrees with those previously proposed in the literature.

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arXiv2014

Coset Constructions of Logarithmic (1,p)-Models

One of the best understood families of logarithmic conformal field theories is that consisting of the (1,p) models (p = 2, 3, ...) of central charge c_{1,p} = 1 - 6 (p-1)^2 / p. This family includes the theories corresponding to the singlet algebras M(p) and the triplet algebras W(p), as well as the ubiquitous symplectic fermions theory. In this work, these algebras are realized through a coset construction. The W^(2)_n algebra of level k was introduced by Feigin and Semikhatov as a (conjectured) quantum hamiltonian reduction of affine sl(n)_k, generalising the Bershadsky-Polyakov algebra W^(2)_3. Inspired by work of Adamovic for p=3, vertex algebras B_p are constructed as subalgebras of the kernel of certain screening charges acting on a rank 2 lattice vertex algebra of indefinite signature. It is shown that for p <= 5, the algebra B_p is a homomorphic image of W^(2)_{p-1} at level -(p-1)^2 / p and that the known part of the operator product algebra of the latter algebra is consistent with this holding for p>5 as well. The triplet algebra W(p) is then realised as a coset inside the full kernel of the screening operator, while the singlet algebra M(p) is similarly realised inside B_p. As an application, and to illustrate these results, the coset character decompositions are explicitly worked out for p=2 and 3.

math.QA↗

arXiv2013

The tensor structure on the representation category of the $\mathcal{W}_p$ triplet algebra

We study the braided monoidal structure that the fusion product induces on the abelian category $\mathcal{W}_p$-mod, the category of representations of the triplet $W$-algebra $\mathcal{W}_p$. The $\mathcal{W}_p$-algebras are a family of vertex operator algebras that form the simplest known examples of symmetry algebras of logarithmic conformal field theories. We formalise the methods for computing fusion products, developed by Nahm, Gaberdiel and Kausch, that are widely used in the physics literature and illustrate a systematic approach to calculating fusion products in non-semi-simple representation categories. We apply these methods to the braided monoidal structure of $\mathcal{W}_p$-mod, previously constructed by Huang, Lepowsky and Zhang, to prove that this braided monoidal structure is rigid. The rigidity of $\mathcal{W}_p$-mod allows us to prove explicit formulae for the fusion product on the set of all simple and all projective $\mathcal{W}_p$-modules, which were first conjectured by Fuchs, Hwang, Semikhatov and Tipunin; and Gaberdiel and Runkel.

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arXiv2012

Logarithmic bulk and boundary conformal field theory and the full centre construction

We review the definition of bulk and boundary conformal field theory in a way suited for logarithmic conformal field theory. The notion of a maximal bulk theory which can be non-degenerately joined to a boundary theory is defined. The purpose of this construction is to obtain the more complicated bulk theories from simpler boundary theories. We then describe the algebraic counterpart of the maximal bulk theory, namely the so-called full centre of an algebra in an abelian braided monoidal category. Finally, we illustrate the previous discussion in the example of the W(2,3)-model with central charge 0.

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arXiv2011

A modular invariant bulk theory for the c=0 triplet model

A proposal for the bulk space of the logarithmic W(2,3)-triplet model at central charge zero is made. The construction is based on the idea that one may reconstruct the bulk theory of a rational conformal field theory from its boundary theory. The resulting bulk space is a quotient of the direct sum of projective representations, which is isomorphic, as a vector space, to the direct sum of tensor products of the irreducible representations with their projective covers. As a consistency check of our analysis we show that the partition function of the bulk theory is modular invariant, and that the boundary state analysis is compatible with the proposed annulus partition functions of this model.

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arXiv2010

Fusion Rules of the ${\cal W}_{p,q}$ Triplet Models

In this paper we determine the fusion rules of the logarithmic ${\calW}_{p,q}$ triplet theory and construct the Grothendieck group with subgroups for which consistent product structures can be defined. The fusion rules are then used to determine projective covers. This allows us also to write down a candidate for a modular invariant partition function. Our results demonstrate that recent work on the ${\cal W}_{2,3}$ model generalises naturally to arbitrary (p,q).

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arXiv2009

Fusion rules and boundary conditions in the c=0 triplet model

The logarithmic triplet model W_2,3 at c=0 is studied. In particular, we determine the fusion rules of the irreducible representations from first principles, and show that there exists a finite set of representations, including all irreducible representations, that closes under fusion. With the help of these results we then investigate the possible boundary conditions of the W_2,3 theory. Unlike the familiar Cardy case where there is a consistent boundary condition for every representation of the chiral algebra, we find that for W_2,3 only a subset of representations gives rise to consistent boundary conditions. These then have boundary spectra with non-degenerate two-point correlators.

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arXiv2008

Moduli Webs and Superpotentials for Five-Branes

We investigate the one-parameter Calabi-Yau models and identify families of D5-branes which are associated to lines embedded in these manifolds. The moduli spaces are given by sets of Riemann curves, which form a web whose intersection points are described by permutation branes. We arrive at a geometric interpretation for bulk-boundary correlators as holomorphic differentials on the moduli space and use this to compute effective open-closed superpotentials to all orders in the open string couplings. The fixed points of D5-brane moduli under bulk deformations are determined.

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