Monstrous Moonshine and the uniqueness of the Moonshine module

In this talk we consider the relationship between the conjectured uniqueness of the Moonshine module of Frenkel, Lepowsky and Meurman and Monstrous Moonshine, the genus zero property for Thompson series discovered by Conway and Norton. We discuss some evidence to support the uniqueness of the Moonshine module by considering possible alternative orbifold constructions from a Leech lattice compactified string. Within these constructions we find a new relationship between the centralisers of the Monster group and the Conway group generalising an observation made by Conway and Norton. We also relate the uniqueness of the Moonshine module to Monstrous Moonshine and argue that given this uniqueness, then the genus zero properties hold if and only if orbifolding the Moonshine module with respect to a Monster element reproduces the Moonshine module or the Leech theory. (Talk presented at the Nato Advanced Research Workshop on `Low dimensional topology and quantum field theory`, Cambridge, 6-13 Sept 1992)Comment: 12 pages, DIAS-STP-92-2

On the Relationship between the Uniqueness of the Moonshine Module and Monstrous Moonshine

We consider the relationship between the conjectured uniqueness of the Moonshine Module, ${\cal V}^\natural$, and Monstrous Moonshine, the genus zero property of the modular invariance group for each Monster group Thompson series. We first discuss a family of possible $Z_n$ meromorphic orbifold constructions of ${\cal V}^\natural$ based on automorphisms of the Leech lattice compactified bosonic string. We reproduce the Thompson series for all 51 non-Fricke classes of the Monster group $M$ together with a new relationship between the centralisers of these classes and 51 corresponding Conway group centralisers (generalising a well-known relationship for 5 such classes). Assuming that ${\cal V}^\natural$ is unique, we then consider meromorphic orbifoldings of ${\cal V}^\natural$ and show that Monstrous Moonshine holds if and only if the only meromorphic orbifoldings of ${\cal V}^\natural$ give ${\cal V}^\natural$ itself or the Leech theory. This constraint on the meromorphic orbifoldings of ${\cal V}^\natural$ therefore relates Monstrous Moonshine to the uniqueness of ${\cal V}^\natural$ in a new way.Comment: 53 pages, PlainTex, DIAS-STP-93-0

On Representations of Conformal Field Theories and the Construction of Orbifolds

We consider representations of meromorphic bosonic chiral conformal field theories, and demonstrate that such a representation is completely specified by a state within the theory. The necessary and sufficient conditions upon this state are derived, and, because of their form, we show that we may extend the representation to a representation of a suitable larger conformal field theory. In particular, we apply this procedure to the lattice (FKS) conformal field theories, and deduce that Dong's proof of the uniqueness of the twisted representation for the reflection-twisted projection of the Leech lattice conformal field theory generalises to an arbitrary even (self-dual) lattice. As a consequence, we see that the reflection-twisted lattice theories of Dolan et al are truly self-dual, extending the analogies with the theories of lattices and codes which were being pursued. Some comments are also made on the general concept of the definition of an orbifold of a conformal field theory in relation to this point of view.Comment: 11 pages, LaTeX. Updated references and added preprint n

On the Relationship between Monstrous Moonshine and the Uniqueness of the Moonshine Module

We consider the relationship between the conjectured uniqueness of the Moonshine Module, V♮, and Monstrous Moonshine, the genus zero property of the modular invariance group for each Monster group Thompson series. We first discuss a family of possible Z meromorphic orbifold constructions of V♮ based on automorphisms of the Leech lattice compactified bosonic string. We reproduce the Thompson series for all 51 non-Fricke classes of the Monster group M together with a new relationship between the centralisers of these classes and 51 corresponding Conway group centralisers (generalising a well-known relationship for 5 such classes). Assuming that V♮ is unique, we then consider meromorphic orbifoldings of V♮ and show that Monstrous Moonshine holds if and only if the only meromorphic orbifoldings of V♮ are V♮ itself or the Leech theory. This constraint on the meromorphic orbifoldings of therefore relates Monstrous Moonshine to the uniqueness of V♮ in a new way

Optimality and uniqueness of the Leech lattice among lattices

We prove that the Leech lattice is the unique densest lattice in R^24. The proof combines human reasoning with computer verification of the properties of certain explicit polynomials. We furthermore prove that no sphere packing in R^24 can exceed the Leech lattice's density by a factor of more than 1+1.65*10^(-30), and we give a new proof that E_8 is the unique densest lattice in R^8.Comment: 39 page

On the Y555 complex reflection group

We give a computer-free proof of a theorem of Basak, describing the group generated by 16 complex reflections of order 3, satisfying the braid and commutation relations of the Y555 diagram. The group is the full isometry group of a certain lattice of signature (13,1) over the Eisenstein integers Z[cube root of 1]. Along the way we enumerate the cusps of this lattice and classify the root and Niemeier lattices over this ring.Comment: 16 pages; submitte