Unitary representations of the Virasoro and super-Virasoro algebras (Q1073166): Difference between revisions

Any unitary highest weight representation of the Virasoro algebra is determined by a pair of real numbers (c,h); unitarity implies \(c\geq 0\), \(h\geq 0\). When \(c\geq 1\) it is easy to find a corresponding representation. When \(c<1\) it was shown by \textit{D. Friedan}, \textit{Z. Qiu} and \textit{S. Shenker} [Vertex operators in mathematics and physics, Publ., Math. Sci. Res. Inst. 3, 419-449 (1985; Zbl 0559.58010)] that c belongs to an infinite discrete set and for each such c, h can take only a finite number of values. In previous papers the authors developed a method to obtain representations corresponding to some values of \(c<1\). In the present paper they show that the method in fact provides all the possible unitary highest weight representations of the Virasoro algebra, thus completing its classification. By a similar method they complete the classification of the unitary highest weight representations of the super-Virasoro algebras.