Rational conformal field theories and complex multiplication (Q1424146)

The authors take up the question of rational conformal field theories (RCFT) for sigma models on Calabi-Yau \(n\)-folds. They show that a CFT based on an elliptic curve \(E\) with complex structure parameter \(\tau\) and complexified Kähler Modulus \(\rho\) is rational if and only if both \(\tau\) and \(\rho\) take values in the same imaginary quadratic field of discriminant \(D\). RCFT has a diagonal modular invariant iff either \(\rho\) or \(\tau\) belong to End\((E)\) (which is an order of conductor \(f\) in that field), i.e. iff \(\rho\) is a complex multiplication for a given \(\tau\), up to discrete symmetries. The chiral ring has dimension \(| D| f^2\). An arithmetic/geometric interpretation of the Cardy states is given. In the higher-dimensional case the following conjecture is proposed: \textit{Sigma model on Calabi-Yau corresponding to the pair (M,W) is RCFT if and only if \(M\) and \(W\) admit complex multiplication over the same number field.}