Universal Teichmüller space in geometry and physics (Q1842246)

The universal Teichmüller space, \(T(1)\), can be defined as the homogeneous space \(\text{Homeo}_{\text{q.s}} (S^ 1)/\) \(\text{Mob}(S^ 1)\), where \(\text{Homeo}_{\text{q.s.}}(S^ 1)\) denotes the group of quasisymmetric (namely quasiconformally extendable) homeomorphisms of the unit circle. \(\text{Mob}(S^ 1)\) denotes the three parameter subgroup of Möbius automorphisms on \(S^ 1\). Now, \(T(1)\) carries a natural complex analytic (Banach) manifold structure, and it is, in fact, an universal parameter space for Riemann surfaces of arbitrary topology. Since a closed string can be reparametrized using an arbitrary homeomorphism of the circle, the space \(T(1)\) above, and its (Fréchet) submanifold \(M= \text{Diff}(S^ 1)/\text{Mob}(S^ 1)\), play an important role in non-perturbative string theory. \(M\) is a complex Kähler manifold from the general theory of coadjoint orbits, and it is known that the inclusion map of \(M\) into \(T(1)\) is a holomorphic embedding (the reviewer and A. Verjovsky). Moreover, this inclusion is an isometric immersion with respect to the universal Weil-Petersson Kähler structure, introduced by the reviewer, on \(T(1)\). Can one carry out geometric quantization in string theory by a study of these and related objects? In this survey paper the author gives some basic definitions for these (and allied) infinite-dimensional objects. He then discusses some recent research with an eye to a so-called ``physicist's wish-list'' for such a geometric quantization program. In particular, some relevant but loosely- connected works by M. J. Bowick, A. Lahiri, R. Penner, S. Rajeev, D. Sullivan, A. Verjovsky and the reviewer are summarized partially. There are many speculative discussions in this ``non-technical survey''. It seems to the reviewer that there has emerged some rather deep mathematical structures in infinite dimensions from the pursuit of these ideas arising in string theory -- but actual relevance to physics is as yet lacking.