On classification of conformal vectors in vertex operator algebra and the vertex algebra automorphism group (Q2285307)

The author studies the action of the automorphism group \(\mathrm{Aut}(V)\) of a vertex algebra \(V\) on the set of conformal vectors and discusses a related decomposition of the automorphism group of \(V\). Let \(V\) be a vertex algebra. A conformal vector is a vector \(\omega\in V\) such that \((V,\omega)\) is a conformal vertex algebra, i.e. whose modes endow \(V\) with a representation of the Virasoro algebra in a certain way (in this text it is assumed that the corresponding grading of \(V\) is a \(\mathbb{Z}\)-grading). The author is particularly interested in the situation where \((V,\omega)\) is a self-contragredient vertex operator algebra of CFT-type (called strong CFT-type here). The main result of the text is that if the vertex algebra \(V\) is simple, then the automorphism group \(\Aut(V)\) acts transitively on the set of conformal vectors that yield self-contragredient vertex operator algebras of CFT-type. In other words, a simple vertex algebra has at most one self-contragredient vertex operator algebra structure of CFT-type up to isomorphism. As an application, the author shows that the vertex algebra automorphism group \(\mathrm{Aut}(V)\) of a simple, self-contragredient vertex operator algebra \((V,\omega)\) of CFT-type decomposes into the product of three subgroups, one of which is the vertex operator algebra automorphism group \(\mathrm{Aut}_\omega(V)=\{g\in\Aut(V)\,|\,g\omega=\omega\}\). Finally, the author studies situations in which \(\Aut(V)\) coincides with \(\Aut_\omega(V)\). This is true for many known classes of vertex operator algebras such as lattice vertex operator algebras. In particular, it is shown that the automorphism group of the Moonshine module \(V^\natural\) regarded as a vertex algebra over \(\mathbb{R}\) is the Monster group. (So far, this was only known for the vertex operator algebra automorphism group.)