Formal differential operators, vertex operator algebras and zeta-values. I, II. (Q1413890)

These are the first two parts of the three-paper series based on the author's Ph.D. thesis, where he elucidates the relationships between certain spinor representations of Lie (super)algebras of (pseudo)differential operators on the circle (among them the celebrated Virasoro and Neveu-Schwarz algebras), values of the Riemann zeta-function at the negative integers, vertex operator algebras and \(q\)-difference equations. The papers have methodological merit: the exposition is very detailed, reproducing all necessary constructions and calculations from the literature, summarizing eloquently the relevant parts of the previous research in this area (notably by \textit{S.~Bloch} [J. Algebra 182, 476--500 (1996; Zbl 0868.17017)] and \textit{J.~Lepowsky} [Lett. Math. Phys. 53, 87--103 (2000; Zbl 0973.17036), Contemp. Math. 248, 327--340 (1999; Zbl 1036.17022)]. Preprints of the papers are availabe at arXiv as math.QA/0303152 and math.QA/0303154.