Kähler geometry of the infinite-dimensional homogeneous space \(M=Diff_+(S^ 1)/Rot(S^ 1)\) (Q1119938)

The group of diffeomorphisms of the circle \(Diff(S^ 1)\), one of the simplest examples of infinite-dimensional Lie groups, is of particular interest because of its applications to the string approach of modern quantum field theory. The geometry of the homogeneous space \(M=Diff_+(S^ 1)/Rot(S^ 1)\) is closely related to the theory of unitary representations of \(Diff(S^ 1)\) and, in particular, the Kähler geometry of M is used in the quantum theory of a closed boson string. After a preliminary study of \(Diff(S^ 1)\) and related topics, the authors describe various realizations of M (algebraic, probabilistic, orbit (symplectic), analytic and geometric), explaining the significance of each one of them. Various calculations concern the Lie fields of M (in the case of analytic realization), the normal coordinates and the Riemann tensor. The paper also contains a brief account of M as a reductive space and concludes with the invariant foliations of M as well as the potential of the Kähler metric in the case of zero central charge.