Automorphism groups and derivation algebras of finitely generated vertex operator algebras. (Q1396311)

The automorphism groups of vertex operator algebras (VOAs) are interesting subjects to study. However, only a few basic examples are known explicitly. In this paper the authors obtain a general structure of the automorphism groups of finitely generated VOAs. Suppose \(V\) is a finitely generated VOA. Then there is an integer \(n\) such that the direct sum \(U= \bigoplus_{m\leq n} V_m\) of all homogeneous subspaces \(V_m\) of weight at most \(n\) generates \(V\). The main result of the paper is that the automorphism group \(\Aut(V)\) of \(V\) is isomorphic to a certain subgroup \(G_U\) of \(\text{GL}(U)\). Thus \(\Aut(V)\) is a finite-dimensional algebraic group and so the connected component \(\Aut(V)^0\) containing the identity is of finite index. Most of the known examples of the automorphism groups of VOAs are of this type. It is shown that if \(V\) is not finitely generated then \(\Aut(V)\) is not necessarily an algebraic group. If \(d\) is a derivation of \(V\), then \(e^d\) is an automorphism of \(V\). The relation between the Lie algebra of derivations and \(\Aut(V)\) is also discussed.