Coset algebras, integrable hierarchies and matrix models (Q1326863)

This is a mainly expository paper touching many aspects of the state of the art in conformal field theory, integrable hierarchies and matrix models in quantum gravity. The author gives an introduction to two- dimensional conformal field theory and \(W\)-algebras. In chapter 2 he studies a special type of these algebras: the ones obtained by the coset construction from Kac-Moody algebras. He presents a systematic approach to the construction of such coset algebras. A basis of the primary fields in the chiral operator algebra of an (untwisted) affine Kac-Moody algebra is constructed and used to build generators of some coset \(W\)-algebra. Some examples are given. In chapter 3 (and 4) the relation between integrable hierarchies like KP hierarchy and the coset algebras is discussed. Chapters 4 and 5 deal with matrix models of nonperturbative quantum gravity.