nLab Virasoro algebra

Contents

Context

Lie theory

∞-Lie theory (higher geometry)

Background

Smooth structure

Higher groupoids

Lie theory

∞-Lie groupoids

∞-Lie algebroids

Formal Lie groupoids

Cohomology

Homotopy

Related topics

Examples

\infty-Lie groupoids

\infty-Lie groups

\infty-Lie algebroids

\infty-Lie algebras

Algebra

Contents

Idea

The Virasoro algebra or Virasoro Lie algebra is the nontrivial central extension of the Witt Lie algebra? (the Lie algebra of the group of diffeomorphisms of the circle). It is of central importance in some questions of complex analysis, in conformal field theory and the study of affine Lie algebras.

Definition

The generators L nL_n of the Virasoro algebra are indexed by an integer nn \in \mathbb{Z}, and they satisfy the commutation relation

[L m,L n]=(mn)L m+n+c12(m 3m)δ m+n,0. [L_m, L_n] = (m - n) L_{m+n} + \frac{c}{12}(m^3 - m) \delta_{m+n,0}.

Here, cc denotes the element of the algebra known as the central charge; it commutes with each generator,

[L n,c]=0n. [L_n, c] = 0 \forall n.

The factor of 1/12 is conventional and chosen for normalisation purposes.

Last revised on March 14, 2017 at 11:23:54. See the history of this page for a list of all contributions to it.