Hidden SL(n) symmetry in conformal field theories (Q581642)

The authors show how to obtain an irreducible representation of the Virasoro algebra from an irreducible representation of the affine Lie algebra associated to \({\mathfrak sl}_ 2({\mathbb{R}})\) using BRST cohomology. This is generalized to the case of \({\mathfrak sl}_ n({\mathbb{R}})\) and the algebras \(W_ n\) introduced by Zamolodchikov. A geometric realization of the \(W_ n\)- algebras is suggested.