arXiv subjects

T. Gannon

Publications and source records attributed to T. Gannon.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2008

Zhu's algebra, the C_2 algebra, and twisted modules

In his landmark paper, Zhu associated two associative algebras to a vertex operator algebra: what are now called Zhu's algebra and the C_2-algebra. The former has a nice interpretation in terms of the representation theory of the VOA, while the latter only serves as a finiteness condition. In this paper we undertake first steps to unravel the interpretation of the C_2 vector space. In particular we suggest that it seems and controls the twisted representations of the VOA.

math.QA↗

arXiv2007

The Galois action on character tables

A geometric interpretation and generalisation for the Galois action on finite group character tables is sketched. The generalisation is a Galois action on the space Map_G(G^n,\bar{Q})/S_n for each finite G, where G acts by simultaneous conjugation on the n-tuples G^n and the symmetric group S_n permutes the components.

math.GR↗

arXiv2007

Conformal field theory and mapping class groups

Rational conformal field theories produce a tower of finite-dimensional representations of surface mapping class groups, acting on the conformal blocks of the theory. We review this formalism. We show that many recent mathematical developments can be fit into the first 2 floors of this tower. We also review what is known in higher genus.

math.QA↗

arXiv2007

Vector-valued modular functions for the modular group and the hypergeometric equation

A general theory of vector-valued modular functions, holomorphic in the upper half-plane, is presented for finite dimensional representations of the modular group. This also provides a description of vector-valued modular forms of arbitrary half-integer weight. It is shown that the space of these modular functions is spanned, as a module over the polynomials in J, by the columns of a matrix that satisfies an abstract hypergeometric equation, providing a simple solution of the Riemann-Hilbert problem for representations of the modular group. Restrictions on the coefficients of this differential equation implied by analyticity are discussed, and an inversion formula is presented that allows the determination of an arbitrary vector-valued modular function from its singular behavior. Questions of rationality and positivity of expansion coefficients are addressed. Closed expressions for the number of vector-valued modular forms of half-integer weight are given, and the general theory is illustrated on simple examples.

math.NT↗

arXiv2005

The algebraic meaning of genus-zero

The Conway--Norton conjectures unexpectedly related the Monster with certain special modular functions (Hauptmoduls). Their proof by Borcherds et al was remarkable for demonstrating the rich mathematics implicit there. Unfortunately Moonshine remained almost as mysterious after the proof as before. In particular, a computer check - as opposed to a general conceptual argument - was used to verify the Monster functions equal the appropriate modular functions. This, the so-called `conceptual gap', was eventually filled; we review the solution here. We conclude by speculating on the shape of a new proof of the Moonshine conjectures.

math.NT↗

arXiv2005

Conformal characters and the modular representation

A general procedure is presented to determine, given any suitable representation of the modular group, the characters of all possible Rational Conformal Field Theories whose associated modular representation is the given one. The relevant ideas and methods are illustrated on two non-trivial examples: the Yang-Lee and the Ising models.

hep-th↗

arXiv2004

Monstrous Moonshine: The first twenty-five years

Twenty-five years ago, Conway and Norton published their remarkable paper `Monstrous Moonshine', proposing a completely unexpected relationship between finite simple groups and modular functions. This paper reviews the progress made in broadening and understanding that relationship.

math.QA↗

arXiv2003

Comments on nonunitary conformal field theories

As is well-known, nonunitary RCFTs are distinguished from unitary ones in a number of ways, two of which are that the vacuum 0 doesn't have minimal conformal weight, and that the vacuum column of the modular S matrix isn't positive. However there is another primary field, call it o, which has minimal weight and has positive S column. We find that often there is a precise and useful relationship, which we call the Galois shuffle, between primary o and the vacuum; among other things this can explain why (like the vacuum) its multiplicity in the full RCFT should be 1. As examples we consider the minimal WSU(N) models. We conclude with some comments on fractional level admissible representations of affine algebras. As an immediate consequence of our analysis, we get the classification of an infinite family of nonunitary WSU(3) minimal models in the bulk.

hep-th↗

arXiv2002

Boundary Conformal Field Theory and Fusion Ring Representations

To an RCFT corresponds two combinatorial structures: the amplitude of a torus (the 1-loop partition function of a closed string, sometimes called a modular invariant), and a representation of the fusion ring (called a NIM-rep or equivalently a fusion graph, and closely related to the 1-loop partition function of an open string). In this paper we develop some basic theory of NIM-reps, obtain several new NIM-rep classifications, and compare them with the corresponding modular invariant classifications. Among other things, we make the following fairly disturbing observation: there are infinitely many (WZW) modular invariants which do not correspond to any NIM-rep. The resolution could be that those modular invariants are physically sick. Is classifying modular invariants really the right thing to do? For current algebras, the answer seems to be: Usually but not always. For finite groups a la Dijkgraaf-Vafa-Verlinde-Verlinde, the answer seems to be: Rarely.

hep-th↗

arXiv2001

Postcards from the edge, or Snapshots of the theory of generalised Moonshine

In 1978, John McKay made an intriguing observation: 196884=196883+1. Monstrous Moonshine is the collection of questions (and a few answers) inspired by this observation. Like moonlight itself, Moonshine is an indirect phenomenon. Just as in the theory of moonlight one must introduce the sun, so in the theory of Moonshine one should go well beyond the Monster. Much as a talk discussing moonlight may include a few words on sunsets or comet tails, so will we see snapshots of the Theory of Generalised Moonshine.

math.QA↗

arXiv2000

Finite Group Modular Data

In a remarkable variety of contexts appears the modular data associated to finite groups. And yet, compared to the well-understood affine algebra modular data, the general properties of this finite group modular data has been poorly explored. In this paper we undergo such a study. We identify some senses in which the finite group data is similar to, and different from, the affine data. We also consider the data arising from a cohomological twist, and write down, explicitly in terms of quantities associated directly with the finite group, the modular S and T matrices for a general twist, for what appears to be the first time in print.

hep-th↗

arXiv2000

The automorphisms of affine fusion rings

The fusion rings associated to affine Kac-Moody algebras appear in several different contexts in math and mathematical physics. In this paper we find all automorphisms of all affine fusion rings, or equivalently the symmetries of the corresponding fusion coefficients. Most of these are directly related to symmetries of the corresponding Coxeter-Dynkin diagram. We also find all pairs of isomorphic affine fusion rings.

math.QA↗

arXiv1999

Integers in the open string

We show that the $Y_{ab}^c$ of Pradisi-Sagnotti-Stanev are indeed integers, and we prove a conjecture of Borisov-Halpern-Schweigert. We indicate some of the special features which arise when the order of the modular matrix T is odd. Our arguments are general, applying to arbitrary ``parent'' RCFT assuming only that T has odd order.

hep-th↗

arXiv1999

Congruence subgroups and rational conformal field theory

We address here the question of whether the characters of an RCFT are modular functions for some level N, i.e. whether the representation of the modular group SL_2(Z) coming from any RCFT is trivial on some congruence subgroup. We prove that if the matrix T, associated to $(\matrix{1&1\cr 0&1})\in{\rm SL}_2(\Z)$, has ODD order, then this must be so. When the order of T is even, we present a simple test which if satisfied -- and we conjecture it always will be -- implies that the characters for that RCFT will also be level N. We use this to explain three curious observations in RCFT made by various authors.

math.QA↗

arXiv1999

The cyclic structure of unimodal permutations

Unimodal (i.e. single-humped) permutations may be decomposed into a product of disjoint cycles. Some enumerative results concerning their cyclic structure -- e.g. 2/3 of them contain fixed points -- are given. We also obtain in effect a kind of combinatorial universality for continuous unimodal maps, by severely constraining the possible ways periodic orbits of any such map can nestle together. But our main observation (and tool) is the existence of a natural noncommutative monoidal structure on this class of permutations which respects their cyclic structure. This monoidal structure is a little mysterious, and can perhaps be understood by broadening the context, e.g. by looking for similar structure in other classes of `pattern-avoiding' permutations.

math.DS↗

arXiv1999

The Cappelli-Itzykson-Zuber A-D-E classification

In 1986 Cappelli, Itzykson and Zuber classified all modular invariant partition functions for the conformal field theories associated to the affine $A_1$ algebra; they found they fall into an A-D-E pattern. Their proof was difficult and attempts to generalise it to the other affine algebras failed -- in hindsight the reason is that their argument ignored most of the rich mathematical structure present. We give here the "modern" proof of their result; it is an order of magnitude simpler and shorter, and much of it has already been extended to all other affine algebras. We conclude with some remarks on the A-D-E pattern appearing in this and other RCFT classifications.

math.QA↗

arXiv1998

Heterotic Modular Invariants and Level--Rank Duality

New heterotic modular invariants are found using the level-rank duality of affine Kac-Moody algebras. They provide strong evidence for the consistency of an infinite list of heterotic Wess-Zumino-Witten (WZW) conformal field theories. We call the basic construction the dual-flip, since it flips chirality (exchanges left and right movers) and takes the level-rank dual. We compare the dual-flip to the method of conformal subalgebras, another way of constructing heterotic invariants. To do so, new level-one heterotic invariants are first found; the complete list of a specified subclass of these is obtained. We also prove (under a mild hypothesis) an old conjecture concerning exceptional $A_{r,k}$ invariants and level-rank duality.

hep-th↗

arXiv1997

On Fusion Algebras and Modular Matrices

We consider the fusion algebras arising in e.g. Wess-Zumino-Witten conformal field theories, affine Kac-Moody algebras at positive integer level, and quantum groups at roots of unity. Using properties of the modular matrix $S$, we find small sets of primary fields (equivalently, sets of highest weights) which can be identified with the variables of a polynomial realization of the $A_r$ fusion algebra at level $k$. We prove that for many choices of rank $r$ and level $k$, the number of these variables is the minimum possible, and we conjecture that it is in fact minimal for most $r$ and $k$. We also find new, systematic sources of zeros in the modular matrix $S$. In addition, we obtain a formula relating the entries of $S$ at fixed points, to entries of $S$ at smaller ranks and levels. Finally, we identify the number fields generated over the rationals by the entries of $S$, and by the fusion (Verlinde) eigenvalues.

q-alg↗