Operator Algebras and Conformal Field Theory
16 August - 21 August 2010
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR
This workshop will explore the foundations of conformal field theory
from the perspective of operator algebras. This subject has generated interest
in physics and representation theory, and more recently in algebraic topology.
The main goal of the workshop will be to understand Wassermann's paper
Operator algebras and conformal field theory III.
In this paper, the author constructs conformal field theories associated to the loop group
of SU(n),
and uses Connes' fusion tensor product to study
the representation theory of various central extensions of the loop group.
Further topics discussed at the workshop will include boundary conformal field theory
and topological defects.
The workshop will be aimed at graduate students and postdocs, with many
of the talks given by the participants. We do not expect any of the
participants to be experts in all of the subjects that are represented
in Wasserman's formidable paper. Rather, we hope to bring together participants
with diverse backgrounds, and to weave these backgrounds together into a coherent
picture through a combination of lectures and informal discussion sessions.
In particular, students who have never worked with von Neumann algebras or never
worked with loop groups are still welcome to participate, as long as they come ready to learn.
The workshop will be led by
André Henriques.
Resources for participants
Schedule and references
Typed
notes from all the talks, compiled by Emily Peters
Typos in Wassermann's paper, compiled by André Henriques
Organizational flow chart for Wassermann's paper, also compiled by André Henriques
Two proof-less summaries of Wassermann's paper:
Wassermann, Operator algebras and conformal field theory, Proceedings
of the 1994 ICM.
Jones, Fusion en algèbres de von Neumann et groupes de lacets
(d'aprés A. Wassermann), Séminaire Bourbaki 1994/95.
Funding
No more funding is available, but you are still welcome to come at your own expense.
For more information,
please contact
Nicholas Proudfoot.