English

Vertex algebras, topological defects, and Moonshine

High Energy Physics - Theory 2025-01-03 v2

Abstract

We discuss topological defect lines in holomorphic vertex operators algebras and superalgebras, in particular Frenkel-Lepowsky-Meurman Monster VOA VV^\natural with central charge c=24c=24, and Conway module SVOA VfV^{f\natural} with c=12c=12. First, we consider duality defects in VV^\natural for all non-anomalous Fricke elements of the Monster group, and provide a general formula for the corresponding defect McKay-Thompson series. Furthermore, we describe some general properties of the category of defect lines preserving the N=1N=1 superVirasoro algebra in VfV^{f\natural}. We argue that, under some mild assumptions, every such defect in VfV^{f\natural} is associated with a Z\mathbb{Z}-linear map form the Leech lattice to itself. This correspondence establishes a surjective (not injective) ring homomorphism between the Grothendieck ring of the category of topological defects and the ring of Leech lattice endomorphisms. Finally, we speculate about possible generalization of the Moonshine conjectures that include topological defect lines.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2412.21141,
  title  = {Vertex algebras, topological defects, and Moonshine},
  author = {Roberto Volpato},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2412.21141},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

28 pages, 3 figures. v2: minor corrections, references added