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Questions tagged [affine-lie-algebra]

An infinite dimensional Lie algebra. This tag is not to be confused with the [lie-algebra] tag.

13 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
8 votes
0 answers
346 views

Free Field Realization of Current Algebras and its Hilbert space

I have some conceptual confusion regarding the interplay between current algebras, their free field representation and the Hilbert space generated from it. Let's sketch a simple example, $\mathfrak{...
thi's user avatar
  • 410
4 votes
0 answers
155 views

Geometry of Affine Kac-Moody Algebras

One can reconstruct the unitary irreducible representations of compact Lie groups very beautifully in geometric quantization, using the Kähler structure of various $G/H$ spaces. Can one perform a ...
user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
170 views

WZW model - affine Kac-Moody current algebra from Quantum Group exchange algebra

In `Hidden Quantum Groups Inside Kac-Moody Algebra', by Alekseev, Faddeev, and Semenov-Tian-Shansky, a relationship between quantum groups and affine Kac-Moody algebras is shown for the WZW model. ...
Mtheorist's user avatar
  • 1,171
2 votes
0 answers
43 views

WZW primary fields / correlations in terms of current algebra?

Cross-posted from a Mathoverflow thread! Answer there for a bounty ;) Given the $\mathfrak{u}_N$ algebra with generators $L^a$ and commutation relations $ [L^a,L^b] = \sum_c f^{a,b}_{c} L^c $ , the ...
Joe's user avatar
  • 726
2 votes
0 answers
62 views

Symmetry generating commutator in Witten's treatment of WZW model

In 'Non-abelian Bosonization in Two Dimensions', Witten writes down the commutation relations between currents and fields of the WZW model in equation (33): \begin{equation} \bigg[\frac{1}{2\pi}\bigg(\...
Mtheorist's user avatar
  • 1,171
2 votes
0 answers
66 views

Why does Witten not include higher order quantum corrections when quantizing Poisson brackets in the WZW model?

In 'Non-abelian Bosonization in Two Dimensions', Witten argues that the Poisson brackets of the currents that generate the $G\times G$ symmetry of the WZW model give rise to a Kac-Moody algebra upon ...
Mtheorist's user avatar
  • 1,171
2 votes
0 answers
158 views

OPE Kac-Moody Currents

We have the following operators: \begin{align} J^a(z) = \frac{1}{2}\psi_s^{\dagger}(z)\sigma^a_{s s'}\psi_{s'}(z), \hspace{10 mm} \bar{J}^a(z) = \frac{1}{2}\psi_s^{\dagger}(\bar{z})\sigma^a_{s s'}\...
Joshua's user avatar
  • 41
2 votes
0 answers
186 views

Physical meaning of the WZW action and Lagrangian

What is the (super)-WZW term physical meaning? I mean, what is the physical importance of the Wess-Zumino-Witten action/Lagrangian in superstrings/M-theory and or field theory (not stringy if ...
riemannium's user avatar
  • 6,611
1 vote
0 answers
60 views

How to derive WZW model’s energy-momentum tensor? The result is of course the Sugawara construction

I want to know how to derive WZW’s energy-momentum tensor. We know WZW action is $$ S_{WZW}[g]=\frac{k}{16\pi}\int d^2x Tr(\partial g^{-1}\partial g) - \frac{ik}{24\pi} \int_B d^3y \epsilon_{abc} Tr(h^...
zixuan feng's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
60 views

String theory coset-space theories in the text book by Becker, Becker and Schwarz (BBS)

I am reading the string theory and M-theory by Becker, Becker and Schwarz (BBS). And I came across a section in chapter 3 called coset-space theories (after equation 3.58) At the beginning of this ...
Tan Tixuan's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
97 views

The mathematical structure of $\widehat{su(2)}_k$

Some of my colleagues work on CFT's and quantum groups and I hear them talk a lot about $\widehat{su(2)}_k$ algebras. According to them (and the general physics literature) these are what ...
NDewolf's user avatar
  • 1,306
1 vote
0 answers
252 views

How to derive Kac-Moody and Virasoro algebras from their descriptions as central extensions?

I am following the notes (https://arxiv.org/abs/hep-th/9904145) to learn conformal field theory, and want to know how to derive the contributions to the Virasoro and Kac-Moody algebras from the ...
Joe's user avatar
  • 726
1 vote
0 answers
434 views

Free field (Wakimoto) representation in 2d CFT

This question is more a request for explanations. I'm reading now the Di Francesco book in attempt to understand how the free field representations of 2d CFTs are constructed. The first steps in ...
mavzolej's user avatar
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