Introduction to Vertex Operator Algebras and Their Representations

1 Introduction.- 1.1 Motivation.- 1.2 Example of a vertex operator.- 1.3 The notion of vertex operator algebra.- 1.4 Simplification of the definition.- 1.5 Representations and modules.- 1.6 Construction of families of examples.- 1.7 Some further developments.- 2 Formal Calculus.- 2.1 Formal series and the formal delta function.- 2.2 Derivations and the formal Taylor Theorem.- 2.3 Expansions of zero and applications.- 3 Vertex Operator Algebras: The Axiomatic Basics.- 3.1 Definitions and some fundamental properties.- 3.2 Commutativity properties.- 3.3 Associativity properties.- 3.4 The Jacobi identity from commutativity and associativity.- 3.5 The Jacobi identity from commutativity.- 3.6 The Jacobi identity…

• NS
  National Science Foundation
• NS
  National Security Agency
• HN
  Harbin Normal University
• RC
  Research Council, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
• RI
  Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences
• DO
  Division of Mathematical Sciences