The Virasoro algebra and sectors with infinite statistical dimension

We show that the sectors with lowest weight $h\geq 0$, $h\neq j^2$, j\in {1/2}\ZZ of the local net of von Neumann algebras on the circle generated by the Virasoro algebra with central charge c=1 have infinite statistical dimension.Comment: 14 pages, minor changes, one reference adde

On the representation theory of Virasoro Nets

We discuss various aspects of the representation theory of the local nets of von Neumann algebras on the circle associated with positive energy representations of the Virasoro algebra (Virasoro nets). In particular we classify the local extensions of the $c=1$ Virasoro net for which the restriction of the vacuum representation to the Virasoro subnet is a direct sum of irreducible subrepresentations with finite statistical dimension (local extensions of compact type). Moreover we prove that if the central charge $c$ is in a certain subset of $(1,\infty)$, including $[2,\infty)$, and $h \geq (c-1)/24$, the irreducible representation with lowest weight $h$ of the corresponding Virasoro net has infinite statistical dimension. As a consequence we show that if the central charge $c$ is in the above set and satisfies $c\leq 25$ then the corresponding Virasoro net has no proper local extensions of compact type.Comment: 34 page

Classification of Subsystems for Local Nets with Trivial Superselection Structure

Let F be a local net of von Neumann algebras in four spacetime dimensions satisfying certain natural structural assumptions. We prove that if F has trivial superselection structure then every covariant, Haag-dual subsystem B is the fixed point net under a compact group action on one component in a suitable tensor product decomposition of F. Then we discuss some application of our result, including free field models and certain theories with at most countably many sectors.Comment: 31 pages, LaTe

Intersecting Jones projections

Let M be a von Neumann algebra on a Hilbert space H with a cyclic and separating unit vector \Omega and let \omega be the faithful normal state on M given by \omega(\cdot)=(\Omega,\cdot\Omega). Moreover, let {N_i :i\in I} be a family of von Neumann subalgebras of M with faithful normal conditional expectations E_i of M onto N_i satisfying \omega=\omega\circ E_i for all i\in I and let N=\bigcap_{i\in I} N_i. We show that the projections e_i, e of H onto the closed subspaces \bar{N_i\Omega} and \bar{N\Omega} respectively satisfy e=\bigwedge_{i\in I}e_i.This proves a conjecture of V.F.R. Jones and F. Xu in \cite{JonesXu04}

Conformal nets and KK-theory

Given a completely rational conformal net A on the circle, its fusion ring acts faithfully on the K_0-group of a certain universal C*-algebra associated to A, as shown in a previous paper. We prove here that this action can actually be identified with a Kasparov product, thus paving the way for a fruitful interplay between conformal field theory and KK-theory

Structure and Classification of Superconformal Nets

We study the general structure of Fermi conformal nets of von Neumann algebras on the circle, consider a class of topological representations, the general representations, that we characterize as Neveu-Schwarz or Ramond representations, in particular a Jones index can be associated with each of them. We then consider a supersymmetric general representation associated with a Fermi modular net and give a formula involving the Fredholm index of the supercharge operator and the Jones index. We then consider the net associated with the super-Virasoro algebra and discuss its structure. If the central charge c belongs to the discrete series, this net is modular by the work of F. Xu and we get an example where our setting is verified by considering the Ramond irreducible representation with lowest weight c/24. We classify all the irreducible Fermi extensions of any super-Virasoro net in the discrete series, thus providing a classification of all superconformal nets with central charge less than 3/2.Comment: 49 pages. Section 8 has been removed. More details concerning the diffeomorphism covariance are give

From vertex operator algebras to conformal nets and back

We consider unitary simple vertex operator algebras whose vertex operators satisfy certain energy bounds and a strong form of locality and call them strongly local. We present a general procedure which associates to every strongly local vertex operator algebra V a conformal net A_V acting on the Hilbert space completion of V and prove that the isomorphism class of A_V does not depend on the choice of the scalar product on V. We show that the class of strongly local vertex operator algebras is closed under taking tensor products and unitary subalgebras and that, for every strongly local vertex operator algebra V, the map W\mapsto A_W gives a one-to-one correspondence between the unitary subalgebras W of V and the covariant subnets of A_V. Many known examples of vertex operator algebras such as the unitary Virasoro vertex operator algebras, the unitary affine Lie algebras vertex operator algebras, the known c=1 unitary vertex operator algebras, the moonshine vertex operator algebra, together with their coset and orbifold subalgebras, turn out to be strongly local. We give various applications of our results. In particular we show that the even shorter Moonshine vertex operator algebra is strongly local and that the automorphism group of the corresponding conformal net is the Baby Monster group. We prove that a construction of Fredenhagen and J\"{o}rss gives back the strongly local vertex operator algebra V from the conformal net A_V and give conditions on a conformal net A implying that A= A_V for some strongly local vertex operator algebra V.Comment: Minor correction

Energy bounds for vertex operator algebra extensions

Let V be a simple unitary vertex operator algebra and U be a (polynomially) energy-bounded unitary subalgebra containing the conformal vector of V. We give two sufficient conditions implying that V is energy-bounded. The first condition is that U is a compact orbifold for some compact group G of unitary automorphisms of V. The second condition is that V is exponentially energy-bounded and it is a finite direct sum of simple U-modules. As consequence of the second condition, we prove that if U is a regular energy-bounded unitary subalgebra of a simple unitary vertex operator V, then $V$ is energy-bounded. In particular, every simple unitary extension (with the same conformal vector) of a simple unitary affine vertex operator algebra associated with a semisimple Lie algebra is energy-bounded.Comment: 19 page

On the uniqueness of diffeomorphism symmetry in Conformal Field Theory

A Moebius covariant net of von Neumann algebras on S^1 is diffeomorphism covariant if its Moebius symmetry extends to diffeomorphism symmetry. We prove that in case the net is either a Virasoro net or any at least 4-regular net such an extension is unique: the local algebras together with the Moebius symmetry (equivalently: the local algebras together with the vacuum vector) completely determine it. We draw the two following conclusions for such theories. (1) The value of the central charge c is an invariant and hence the Virasoro nets for different values of c are not isomorphic as Moebius covariant nets. (2) A vacuum preserving internal symmetry always commutes with the diffeomorphism symmetries. We further use our result to give a large class of new examples of nets (even strongly additive ones), which are not diffeomorphism covariant; i.e. which do not admit an extension of the symmetry to Diff^+(S^1).Comment: 25 pages, LaTe