arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Thomas Creutzig.
We formulate a conjectural relation between the category of line defects in topologically twisted 3d ${\cal N} = 4$ supersymmetric quantum field theories and categories of modules for Vertex Operator Algebras of boundary local operators for the theories. We test the conjecture in several examples and provide some partial proofs for standard classes of gauge theories.
We prove some conjectures about vertex algebras which emerge in gauge theory constructions associated to the geometric Langlands program. In particular, we present the conjectural kernel vertex algebra for the $S T^2 S$ duality transformation in $SU(2)$ gauge theory. We find a surprising coincidence, which gives a powerful hint about the nature of the corresponding duality wall. Concretely, we determine the branching rules for the small $N=4$ superconformal algebra at central charge $-9$ as well as for the generic large $N=4$ superconformal algebra at central charge $-6$. Moreover we obtain the affine vertex superalgebra of $\mathfrak{osp}(1|2)$ and the $N=1$ superconformal algebra times a free fermion as Quantum Hamiltonian reductions of the large $N=4$ superconformal algebras at $c=-6$.
Given a finite-dimensional reductive Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}$ equipped with a nondegenerate, invariant, symmetric bilinear form $B$, let $V^k(\mathfrak{g},B)$ denote the universal affine vertex algebra associated to $\mathfrak{g}$ and $B$ at level $k$. Let $\mathcal{A}^k$ be a vertex (super)algebra admitting a homomorphism $V^k(\mathfrak{g},B)\rightarrow \mathcal{A}^k$. Under some technical conditions on $\mathcal{A}^k$, we characterize the coset $\text{Com}(V^k(\mathfrak{g},B),\mathcal{A}^k)$ for generic values of $k$. We establish the strong finite generation of this coset in full generality in the following cases: $\mathcal{A}^k = V^k(\mathfrak{g}',B')$, $\mathcal{A}^k = V^{k-l}(\mathfrak{g}',B') \otimes \mathcal{F}$, and $\mathcal{A}^k = V^{k-l}(\mathfrak{g}',B') \otimes V^{l}(\mathfrak{g}",B")$. Here $\mathfrak{g}'$ and $\mathfrak{g}"$ are finite-dimensional Lie (super)algebras containing $\mathfrak{g}$, equipped with nondegenerate, invariant, (super)symmetric bilinear forms $B'$ and $B"$ which extend $B$, $l \in \mathbb{C}$ is fixed, and $\mathcal{F}$ is a free field algebra admitting a homomorphism $V^l(\mathfrak{g},B) \rightarrow \mathcal{F}$. Our approach is essentially constructive and leads to minimal strong finite generating sets for many interesting examples. As an application, we give a new proof of the rationality of the simple $N=2$ superconformal algebra with $c=\frac{3k}{k+2}$ for all positive integers $k$.
Families of vertex algebras associated to nilpotent elements of simply-laced Lie algebras are constructed. These algebras are close cousins of logarithmic W-algebras of Feigin and Tipunin and they are also obtained as modifications of semiclassical limits of vertex algebras appearing in the context of $S$-duality for four-dimensional gauge theories. In the case of type $A$ and principal nilpotent element the character agrees precisely with the Schur-Index formula for corresponding Argyres-Douglas theories with irregular singularities. For other nilpotent elements they are identified with Schur-indices of type IV Argyres-Douglas theories. Further, there is a conformal embedding pattern of these vertex operator algebras that nicely matches the RG-flow of Argyres-Douglas theories as discussed by Buican and Nishinaka.
The main result is that the category of ordinary modules of an affine vertex operator algebra of a simply laced Lie algebra at admissible level is rigid and thus a braided fusion category. If the level satisfies a certain coprime property then it is even a modular tensor category. In all cases open Hopf links coincide with the corresponding normalized S-matrix entries of torus one-point functions. This is interpreted as a Verlinde formula beyond rational vertex operator algebras. A preparatory Theorem is a convenient formula for the fusion rules of rational principal W-algebras of any type.
The parafermionic cosets $C_k = \mathrm{Com} (H, L_k(\mathfrak{sl}_2) )$ are studied for negative admissible levels $k$, as are certain infinite-order simple current extensions $B_k$ of $C_k$. Under the assumption that the tensor theory considerations of Huang, Lepowsky and Zhang apply to $C_k$, all irreducible $C_k$- and $B_k$-modules are obtained from those of $L_k(\mathfrak{sl}_2)$, as are the Grothendieck fusion rules of these irreducible modules. Notably, there are only finitely many irreducible $B_k$-modules. The irreducible $C_k$- and $B_k$-characters are computed and the latter are shown, when supplemented by pseudotraces, to carry a finite-dimensional representation of the modular group. The natural conjecture then is that the $B_k$ are $C_2$-cofinite vertex operator algebras.
We give a new factorisable ribbon quasi-Hopf algebra U, whose underlying algebra is that of the restricted quantum group for sl(2) at a 2p'th root of unity. The representation category of U is conjecturally ribbon-equivalent to that of the triplet vertex operator algebra W(p). We obtain U via a simple current extension from the unrolled restricted quantum group at the same root of unity. The representation category of the unrolled quantum group is conjecturally equivalent to that of the singlet vertex operator algebra M(p), and our construction is parallel to extending M(p) to W(p). We illustrate the procedure in the simpler example of passing from the Hopf algebra for the group algebra CZ to a quasi-Hopf algebra for CZ_{2p}, which corresponds to passing from the Heisenberg vertex operator algebra to a lattice extension.
Let $\mathcal {W}^k(\mathfrak{sl}_4, f_{\text {subreg}})$ be the universal $\mathcal{W}$-algebra associated to $\mathfrak{sl}_4$ with its subregular nilpotent element, and let $\mathcal {W}_k(\mathfrak{sl}_4, f_{\text {subreg}})$ be its simple quotient. There is a Heisenberg subalgebra $\mathcal{H}$, and we denote by $\mathcal{C}^k$ the coset $\text{Com}(\mathcal{H}, \mathcal {W}^k(\mathfrak{sl}_4, f_{\text {subreg}}))$, and by $\mathcal{C}_k$ its simple quotient. We show that for $k=-4+(m+4)/3$ where $m$ is an integer greater than $2$ and $m+1$ is coprime to $3$, $\mathcal{C}_k$ is isomorphic to a rational, regular $\mathcal W$-algebra $\mathcal{W}(\mathfrak{sl}_m, f_{\text{reg}})$. In particular, $\mathcal{W}_k(\mathfrak{sl}_4, f_{\text {subreg}})$ is a simple current extension of the tensor product of $\mathcal{W}(\mathfrak{sl}_m, f_{\text{reg}})$ with a rank one lattice vertex operator algebra, and hence is rational.
Using the tensor category theory developed by Lepowsky, Zhang and the second author, we construct a braided tensor category structure with a twist on a semisimple category of modules for an affine Lie algebra at an admissible level. We conjecture that this braided tensor category is rigid and thus is a ribbon category. We also give conjectures on the modularity of this category and on the equivalence with a suitable quantum group tensor category. In the special case that the affine Lie algebra is $\widehat{\mathfrak{sl}}_2$, we prove the rigidity and modularity conjectures.
We define new deformable families of vertex operator algebras $\mathfrak{A}[\mathfrak{g}, Ψ, σ]$ associated to a large set of S-duality operations in four-dimensional supersymmetric gauge theory. They are defined as algebras of protected operators for two-dimensional supersymmetric junctions which interpolate between a Dirichlet boundary condition and its S-duality image. The $\mathfrak{A}[\mathfrak{g}, Ψ, σ]$ VOAs are equipped with two $\mathfrak{g}$ affine vertex subalgebras whose levels are related by the S-duality operation. They compose accordingly under a natural convolution operation and can be used to define an action of the S-duality operations on a certain space of VOAs equipped with a $\mathfrak{g}$ affine vertex subalgebra. We give a self-contained definition of the S-duality action on that space of VOAs. The space of conformal blocks (in the derived sense, i.e. chiral homology) for $\mathfrak{A}[\mathfrak{g}, Ψ, σ]$ is expected to play an important role in a broad generalization of the quantum Geometric Langlands program. Namely, we expect the S-duality action on VOAs to extend to an action on the corresponding spaces of conformal blocks. This action should coincide with and generalize the usual quantum Geometric Langlands correspondence. The strategy we use to define the $\mathfrak{A}[\mathfrak{g}, Ψ, σ]$ VOAs is of broader applicability and leads to many new results and conjectures about deformable families of VOAs.
The Bershadsky-Polyakov algebra is the $\mathcal{W}$-algebra associated to $\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{l}_3$ with its minimal nilpotent element $f_θ$. For notational convenience we define $\mathcal{W}^{\ell} = \mathcal{W}^{\ell - 3/2} (\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{l}_3, f_θ)$. The simple quotient of $\mathcal{W}^{\ell}$ is denoted by $\mathcal{W}_{\ell}$, and for $\ell$ a positive integer, $\mathcal{W}_{\ell}$ is known to be $C_2$-cofinite and rational. We prove that for all positive integers $\ell$, $\mathcal{W}_{\ell}$ contains a rank one lattice vertex algebra $V_L$, and that the coset $\mathcal{C}_{\ell} = \text{Com}(V_L, \mathcal{W}_{\ell})$ is isomorphic to the principal, rational $\mathcal{W}(\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{l}_{2\ell})$-algebra at level $(2\ell +3)/(2\ell +1) -2\ell$. This was conjectured in the physics literature over 20 years ago. As a byproduct, we construct a new family of rational, $C_2$-cofinite vertex superalgebras from $\mathcal{W}_{\ell}$
The purpose of this work is to illustrate in a family of interesting examples how to study the representation theory of vertex operator superalgebras by combining the theory of vertex algebra extensions and modular forms. Let $L_k\left(\mathfrak{osp}(1 | 2)\right)$ be the simple affine vertex operator superalgebra of $\mathfrak{osp}(1|2)$ at an admissible level $k$. We use a Jacobi form decomposition to see that this is a vertex operator superalgebra extension of $L_k(\mathfrak{sl}_2)\otimes \text{Vir}(p, (p+p')/2)$ where $k+3/2=p/(2p')$ and $\text{Vir}(u, v)$ denotes the regular Virasoro vertex operator algebra of central charge $c=1-6(u-v)^2/(uv)$. Especially, for a positive integer $k$, we get a regular vertex operator superalgebra and this case is studied further. The interplay of the theory of vertex algebra extensions and modular data of the vertex operator subalgebra allows us to classify all simple local (untwisted) and Ramond twisted $L_k\left(\mathfrak{osp}(1 | 2)\right)$-modules and to obtain their super fusion rules. The latter are obtained in a second way from Verlinde's formula for vertex operator superalgebras. Finally, using again the theory of vertex algebra extensions, we find all simple modules and their fusion rules of the parafermionic coset $C_k = \text{Com}\left(V_L, L_k\left(\mathfrak{osp}(1 | 2)\right)\right)$ where $V_L$ is the lattice vertex operator algebra of the lattice $L=\sqrt{2k}\mathbb{Z}$.
Let $\mathfrak{g}$ be a simple, finite-dimensional Lie (super)algebra equipped with an embedding of $\mathfrak{s} \mathfrak{l}_2$ inducing the minimal gradation on $\mathfrak{g}$. The corresponding minimal $\mathcal{W}$-algebra $\mathcal{W}^k(\mathfrak{g}, e_{-θ})$ introduced by Kac and Wakimoto has strong generators in weights $1,2,3/2$, and all operator product expansions are known explicitly. The weight one subspace generates an affine vertex (super)algebra $V^{k'}(\mathfrak{g}^{\natural})$ where $\mathfrak{g}^{\natural} \subset \mathfrak{g}$ denotes the centralizer of $\mathfrak{s} \mathfrak{l}_2$. Therefore $\mathcal{W}^k(\mathfrak{g}, e_{-θ})$ has an action of a connected Lie group $G^{\natural}_0$ with Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}^{\natural}_0$, where $\mathfrak{g}^{\natural}_0$ denotes the even part of $\mathfrak{g}^{\natural}$. We show that for any reductive subgroup $G \subset G^{\natural}_0$, and for any reductive Lie algebra $\mathfrak{g}' \subset \mathfrak{g}^{\natural}$, the orbifold $\mathcal{O}^k = \mathcal{W}^k(\mathfrak{g}, e_{-θ})^{G}$ and the coset $\mathcal{C}^k = \text{Com}(V(\mathfrak{g}'),\mathcal{W}^k(\mathfrak{g}, e_{-θ}))$ are strongly finitely generated for generic values of $k$. Here $V(\mathfrak{g}')$ denotes the affine vertex algebra associated to $\mathfrak{g}'$. We find explicit minimal strong generating sets for $\mathcal{C}^k$ when $\mathfrak{g}' = \mathfrak{g}^{\natural}$ and $\mathfrak{g}$ is either $\mathfrak{s} \mathfrak{l}_n$, $\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{p}_{2n}$, $\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{l}(2|n)$ for $n\neq 2$, $\mathfrak{p}\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{l}(2|2)$, or $\mathfrak{o}\mathfrak{s}\mathfrak{p}(1|4)$. Finally, we conjecture some surprising coincidences among families of cosets $\mathcal{C}_k$ which are the simple quotients of $\mathcal{C}^k$, and we prove several cases of our conjecture.
Recent work has related the equivariant elliptic genera of sigma models with K3 surface target to a vertex operator superalgebra that realizes moonshine for Conway's group. Motivated by this we consider conditions under which a self-dual vertex operator superalgebra may be identified with the bulk Hilbert space of a superconformal field theory. After presenting a classification result for self-dual vertex operator superalgebras with central charge up to 12 we describe several examples of close relationships with bulk superconformal field theories, including those arising from sigma models for tori and K3 surfaces.
The Schur-index of the $(A_1, X_n)$-Argyres-Douglas theory is conjecturally a character of a vertex operator algebra. Here such vertex algebras are found for the $A_{\text{odd}}$ and $D_{\text{even}}$-type Argyres-Douglas theories. The vertex operator algebra corresponding to $A_{2p-3}$-Argyres-Douglas theory is the logarithmic $\mathcal B_p$-algebra of [1], while the one corresponding to $D_{2p}$, denoted by $\mathcal W_p$, is realized as a non-regular Quantum Hamiltonian reduction of $L_{k}(\mathfrak{sl}_{p+1})$ at level $k=-(p^2-1)/p$. For all $n$ one observes that the quantum Hamiltonian reduction of the vertex operator algebra of $D_n$ Argyres-Douglas theory is the vertex operator algebra of $A_{n-3}$ Argyres-Douglas theory. As corollary, one realizes the singlet and triplet algebras (the vertex algebras associated to the best understood logarithmic conformal field theories) as Quantum Hamiltonian reductions as well. Finally, characters of certain modules of these vertex operator algebras and the modular properties of their meromorphic continuations are given.
Let $V$ be a simple vertex operator algebra containing a rank $n$ Heisenberg vertex algebra $H$ and let $C=\text{Com}\left( {H}, {V}\right)$ be the coset of ${H}$ in ${V}$. Assuming that the representation categories of interest are vertex tensor categories in the sense of Huang, Lepowsky and Zhang, a Schur-Weyl type duality for both simple and indecomposable but reducible modules is proven. Families of vertex algebra extensions of ${C}$ are found and every simple ${C}$-module is shown to be contained in at least one ${V}$-module. A corollary of this is that if ${V}$ is rational and $C_2$-cofinite and CFT-type, and $\text{Com}\left( {C}, {V}\right)$ is a rational lattice vertex operator algebra, then so is ${C}$. These results are illustrated with many examples and the $C_1$-cofiniteness of certain interesting classes of modules is established.
An explicit formula is derived for the generating function of vertical D4-D2-D0 bound states on smooth K3 fibered Calabi-Yau threefolds, generalizing previous results of Gholampour and Sheshmani. It is also shown that this formula satisfies strong modularity properties, as predicted by string theory. This leads to a new construction of vector valued modular forms which exhibits some of the features of a generalized Hecke transform.
We study relationships between the restricted unrolled quantum group $\overline{U}_q^H(\mathfrak{sl}_2)$ at $2r$-th root of unity $q=e^{πi/r}, r \geq 2$, and the singlet vertex operator algebra $\mathcal M(r)$. We use deformable families of modules to efficiently compute $(1, 1)$-tangle invariants colored with projective modules of $\overline{U}_q^H(\mathfrak{sl}_2)$. These relate to the colored Alexander tangle invariants studied in [ADO, M1]. It follows that the regularized asymptotic dimensions of characters of $\mathcal M(r)$ coincide with the corresponding modified traces of open Hopf link invariants. We also discuss various categorical properties of $\mathcal M(r)$-mod in connection to braided tensor categories.