A characterization of vertex operator algebra \({L(\frac{1}{2},0)\otimes L(\frac{1}{2},0)}\) (Q982448)

The authors continue to study the characterization of simple rational \(C_2\)-cofinite vertex operator algebras with central charge \(c=1\). In [\textit{W. Zhang} and \textit{C. Dong}, Commun. Math. Phys. 285, 991--1004 (2009; Zbl 1194.17015)] it was shown that \(L(1/2,0) \otimes L(1/2,0)\) is a unique simple rational \(C_2\)-cofinite vertex operator algebra with \(c = \tilde{c} = 1\) whose weight one subspace is zero and weight two subspace is of dimension \(2\). Here, \(\tilde{c}\) denotes the effective central charge defined in [\textit{C. Dong} and \textit{G. Mason}, Int. Math. Res. Not. 2004, No. 56, 2989--3008 (2004; Zbl 1106.17032)]. In the paper under review the authors show that the same conclusion holds even for the weaker condition that the dimension of the weight two subspace is greater than or equal to \(2\). The weight two subspace \(V_2\) of such a vertex operator algebra \(V\) has a commutative nonassociative algebra structure called a Griess algebra. It turns out that there are two cases, namely, \(V_2\) has two idempotents or has a nontrivial nilpotent element. The argument for the first case is similar to that used in the paper of W. Zhang and C. Dong. In order to deal with the second case, the fusion rules for the Virasoro algebra with central charge \(1\) are studied. Under the additional assumption that \(V\) is a sum of highest weight modules for the Virasoro algebra, the authors show dim\(V_2 = 2\).