Open-string vertex algebras, tensor categories and operads

We introduce notions of open-string vertex algebra, conformal open-string vertex algebra and variants of these notions. These are ``open-string-theoretic,'' ``noncommutative'' generalizations of the notions of vertex algebra and of conformal vertex algebra. Given an open-string vertex algebra, we show that there exists a vertex algebra, which we call the ``meromorphic center,'' inside the original algebra such that the original algebra yields a module and also an intertwining operator for the meromorphic center. This result gives us a general method for constructing open-string vertex algebras. Besides obvious examples obtained from associative algebras and vertex (super)algebras, we give a nontrivial example constructed from the minimal model of central charge c=1/2. We establish an equivalence between the associative algebras in the braided tensor category of modules for a suitable vertex operator algebra and the grading-restricted conformal open-string vertex algebras containing a vertex operator algebra isomorphic to the given vertex operator algebra. We also give a geometric and operadic formulation of the notion of grading-restricted conformal open-string vertex algebra, we prove two isomorphism theorems, and in particular, we show that such an algebra gives a projective algebra over what we call the ``Swiss-cheese partial operad.''Comment: 53 page

Agglomerative Algebras

This paper investigates a generalization of Boolean algebras which I call agglomerative algebras. It also outlines two conceptions of propositions according to which they form an agglomerative algebra but not a Boolean algebra with respect to conjunction and negation

A Lie Algebra for Closed Strings, Spin Chains and Gauge Theories

We consider quantum dynamical systems whose degrees of freedom are described by $N \times N$ matrices, in the planar limit $N \to \infty$. Examples are gauge theoires and the M(atrix)-theory of strings. States invariant under U(N) are `closed strings', modelled by traces of products of matrices. We have discovered that the U(N)-invariant opertors acting on both open and closed string states form a remarkable new Lie algebra which we will call the heterix algebra. (The simplest special case, with one degree of freedom, is an extension of the Virasoro algebra by the infinite-dimensional general linear algebra.) Furthermore, these operators acting on closed string states only form a quotient algebra of the heterix algebra. We will call this quotient algebra the cyclix algebra. We express the Hamiltonian of some gauge field theories (like those with adjoint matter fields and dimensionally reduced pure QCD models) as elements of this Lie algebra. Finally, we apply this cyclix algebra to establish an isomorphism between certain planar matrix models and quantum spin chain systems. Thus we obtain some matrix models solvable in the planar limit; e.g., matrix models associated with the Ising model, the XYZ model, models satisfying the Dolan-Grady condition and the chiral Potts model. Thus our cyclix Lie algebra described the dynamical symmetries of quantum spin chain systems, large-N gauge field theories, and the M(atrix)-theory of strings.Comment: 52 pages, 8 eps figures, LaTeX2.09; this is the published versio