Nonvanishing of twists of LL-functions attached to Hilbert modular forms

We describe algorithms for computing central values of twists of $L$-functions associated to Hilbert modular forms, carry out such computations for a number of examples, and compare the results of these computations to some heuristics and predictions from random matrix theory.Comment: 19 page

Compactifications of moduli spaces inspired by mirror symmetry

We study moduli spaces of nonlinear sigma-models on Calabi-Yau manifolds, using the one-loop semiclassical approximation. The data being parameterized includes a choice of complex structure on the manifold, as well as some ``extra structure'' described by means of classes in H^2. The expectation that this moduli space is well-behaved in these ``extra structure'' directions leads us to formulate a simple and compelling conjecture about the action of the automorphism group on the K\"ahler cone. If true, it allows one to apply Looijenga's ``semi-toric'' technique to construct a partial compactification of the moduli space. We explore the implications which this construction has concerning the properties of the moduli space of complex structures on a ``mirror partner'' of the original Calabi-Yau manifold. We also discuss how a similarity which might have been noticed between certain work of Mumford and of Mori from the 1970's produces (with hindsight) evidence for mirror symmetry which was available in 1979. [The author is willing to mail hardcopy preprints upon request.]Comment: 25 pp., LaTeX 2.09 with AmS-Font

Algebraic Coset Conformal field theories

All unitary Rational Conformal Field Theories (RCFT) are conjectured to be related to unitary coset Conformal Field Theories, i.e., gauged Wess-Zumino-Witten (WZW) models with compact gauge groups. In this paper we use subfactor theory and ideas of algebraic quantum field theory to approach coset Conformal Field Theories. Two conjectures are formulated and their consequences are discussed. Some results are presented which prove the conjectures in special cases. In particular, one of the results states that a class of representations of coset $W_N$ ($N\geq 3$) algebras with critical parameters are irreducible, and under the natural compositions (Connes' fusion), they generate a finite dimensional fusion ring whose structure constants are completely determined, thus proving a long-standing conjecture about the representations of these algebras.Comment: 49 pages, Improved presentations and added details, to appear in Comm.Math.Phy

Explicit methods for Hilbert modular forms

We exhibit algorithms to compute systems of Hecke eigenvalues for spaces of Hilbert modular forms over a totally real field. We provide many explicit examples as well as applications to modularity and Galois representations.Comment: 52 pages, 10 figures, many table