On the coordinate-free description of the conformal blocks (Q1261735)

The object studied is a family of proper algebraic curves, possibly with singularities, \(\pi:X\to S\). Each curve has \(n\) marked points determined by mutually disjoint sections of \(\pi\), \(q_ i:S\to X\). The base space \(S\) is smooth over \(\mathbb{C}\) and \(\pi\) is smooth in some neighbourhood of each \(Q_ i=\text{image} q_ i\). The paper presents a coordinate-free construction of the sheaf of covacua \(\mathcal V_ \lambda\) on \(S\). The coordinate-dependent construction was described originally \textit{A. Tsuchiya}, \textit{K. Ueno} and \textit{Y. Yamada} [Adv. Stud. Pure Math. 19, 459-566 (1989; Zbl 0696.17010)]. First one defines a sheaf of affine Lie algebras \({\mathfrak g}'\) on \(S\) associated to a simple Lie algebra \(\hat{\mathfrak g}\) and then constructs sheaves of highest weight representations with a highest weight \(\lambda\). \({\mathcal V}_ \lambda\) is obtained by additional factorization. The paper further clarifies the nature of the projective connection on \({\mathcal V}_ \lambda\), originally defined also in the paper cited above. To this end, a general theory of Atiyah algebras is reviewed and applied [cf. \textit{A. A. Bejlinson} and \textit{V. V. Shekhtman}, Commun. Math. Phys. 118, No. 4, 651-701 (1988; Zbl 0665.17010)]. The algebras of infinitesimal symmetries relevant in this situation are those of the determinant line bundle \(\text{det} \mathbb{R}\pi_ *{\mathcal O}_ X\) and the relative cotangent bundles \(q_ i^*\omega_{X/S}\). Their linear combination (properly defined) with coefficients depending on \(\lambda\) forms a central extension of the tangent bundle \({\mathcal T}_ S\) and determines the projective connection.