Conformal field theory and lie algebras

Conformal field theories (CFTs) are intimately connected with Lie groups and their Lie algebras. Conformal symmetry is infinite-dimensional and therefore an infinite-dimensional algebra is required to describe it. This is the Virasoro algebra, which must be realized in any CFT. However, there are CFTs whose symmetries are even larger then Virasoro symmentry. We are particularly interested in a class of CFTs called Wess-Zumino-Witten (WZW) models. They have affine Lie algebras as their symmentry algebras. Each WZW model is based on a simple Lie group, whose simple Lie algebra is a subalgebra of its affine symmetry algebra. This allows us to discuss the dominant weight multiplicities of simple Lie algebras in light of WZW theory. They are expressed in terms of the modular matrices of WZW models, and related objects. Symmentries of the modular matrices give rise to new relations among multiplicities. At least for some Lie algebras, these new relations are strong enough to completely fix all multiplicities.

iv, 80 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm.