PG minicourse: Vertex algebras

This is the website for the PG minicourse on Vertex algebras taught by Nils Scheithauer in the first semester of 2006-7. The course will cover the following topics at an introductory level:

• Definition and properties of vertex algebras
• WZW models
• Lattice vertex algebras
• BRST-cohomology and Lie algebras

Schedule

The course consist of three lectures at the following times and places:

1. Thursday, 30 November 2006
   11:15am-12:45pm, JCMB 5326
   Introduction: definition and properties.
2. Tuesday, 5 December 2006
   11am-13pm, JCMB 6301
   Affine Lie algebras and the WZW model
3. Thursday, 7 December 2006
   10am-noon, JCMB 6301
   Lattice vertex algebras; BRST cohomology; the bosonic string on a lorentzian torus

References

• Vertex algebras for beginners
  Victor Kac
  There is one copy in the library.
• Vertex algebras and algebraic curves
  Edward Frenkel and David Ben-Zvi
  There is an online summary of the book. There is also an interesting review. The library has the first edition of this book. Draft PDF versions of the second edition exist.
• Finite in all directions
  Gregory Moore
  This is an old preprint on the physics of the bosonic string compactified on a lorentzian lattice.