Vertex Operators in Mathematics and Physics: Proceedings of a Conference November 10-17, 1983 (Mathematical Sciences Research Institute Publications)

Lepowsky, J.; Mandelstam, S.; Singer, I. M. (editors)

ISBN 10: 0387961216 / ISBN 13: 9780387961217

Published by New York & Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1985

About this Item

Octavo in white & blue cloth binding. Condition: minor soiling to binding; book has a slight lean; upper corners slight bumped; else good+ condition. 482 pages.

Seller Inventory # 301111

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Vertex Operators in Mathematics and Physics: Proceedings of a Conference November 10-17, 1983 (Mathematical Sciences Research Institute Publications)
• Publisher: New York & Berlin: Springer-Verlag
• Publication Date: 1985
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0387961216
• ISBN 13: 9780387961217
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket

About this title

Synopsis

James Lepowsky t The search for symmetry in nature has for a long time provided representation theory with perhaps its chief motivation. According to the standard approach of Lie theory, one looks for infinitesimal symmetry -- Lie algebras of operators or concrete realizations of abstract Lie algebras. A central theme in this volume is the construction of affine Lie algebras using formal differential operators called vertex operators, which originally appeared in the dual-string theory. Since the precise description of vertex operators, in both mathematical and physical settings, requires a fair amount of notation, we do not attempt it in this introduction. Instead we refer the reader to the papers of Mandelstam, Goddard-Olive, Lepowsky-Wilson and Frenkel-Lepowsky-Meurman. We have tried to maintain consistency of terminology and to some extent notation in the articles herein. To help the reader we shall review some of the terminology. We also thought it might be useful to supplement an earlier fairly detailed exposition of ours [37] with a brief historical account of vertex operators in mathematics and their connection with affine algebras. Since we were involved in the development of the subject, the reader should be advised that what follows reflects our own understanding. For another view, see [29].1 t Partially supported by the National Science Foundation through the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute and NSF Grant MCS 83-01664. 1 We would like to thank Igor Frenkel for his valuable comments on the first draft of this introduction.