Communications in Number Theory and Physics

Volume 15 (2021)

Number 1

Vertex operator algebras of rank $2$: The Mathur–Mukhi–Sen theorem revisited

Pages: 59 – 90

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4310/CNTP.2021.v15.n1.a2

Authors

Geoffrey Mason (Department of Mathematics, University of California, Santa Cruz, Calif., U.S.A.)

Kiyokazu Nagatomo (Department of Pure and Applied Mathematics, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan)

Yuichi Sakai (Multiple Zeta Research Center, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan)

Abstract

Let $V$ be a strongly regular vertex operator algebra and let $\mathfrak{ch}_V$ be the space spanned by the characters of the irreducible $V$-modules. It is known that $\mathfrak{ch}_V$ is the space of solutions of a so-called modular linear differential equation (MLDE). In this paper we obtain a classification of those $V$ for which the corresponding MLDE is irreducible and monic of order $2$. It turns out that $V$ is either one of seven affine Kac–Moody algebras of level $1$, or the Yang–Lee Virasoro VOA of central charge $c = - 22/5$. Our proof establishes new connections between the characters of $V$ and Gauss hypergeometric series, and as a Corollary of our classification we complete the work of Mathur, Mukhi and Sen who considered a closely related problem thirty years ago.

Keywords

strongly regular vertex operator algebra, modular linear differential equation, hypergeometric series

2010 Mathematics Subject Classification

Primary 17B69. Secondary 33C05.

Received 17 August 2018

Accepted 7 September 2020

Published 4 January 2021