\(\widehat{\text{sl}}(2|1)\) and \(\widehat{D}(2|1;\alpha)\) as vertex operator extensions of dual affine sl(2) algebras (Q5940530)

The authors give a realization of the affine Lie superalgebra \(\widehat{sl}(2|1)\) and of the exceptional affine superalgebra \(\widehat{D}(2|1;\alpha)\) as vertex operator extensions of the two \(\widehat{sl}(2)\) algebras with dual levels and the duality relation \((k_1+1)(k_2+1)=1\). From this the authors derive a relation between representations of \(\widehat{sl}(2|1)_k\) and that of \(\widehat{sl}(2)_{k}\) and \(\widehat{sl}(2)_{k'}\) with dual \(k\) and \(k'\). More precisely, they construct the representation of \(\widehat{sl}(2|1)_k\) on a sum of tensor products of \(\widehat{sl}(2)_{k}\), \(\widehat{sl}(2)_{k'}\) and \(\widehat{sl}(2)_{1}\) modules and decompose it into a direct sum over the \(\widehat{sl}(2|1)_k\) spectral flow orbit. This decomposition gives certain character identities both for Verma modules and for irreducible representations. The construction is also extended to \(\widehat{D}(2|1;\alpha)\) giving the relation between \(\widehat{sl}(2) \oplus\widehat{sl}(2)\oplus\widehat{sl}(2)\) embeddings into \(\widehat{D}(2|1;\alpha)\) and the dual \(\widehat{sl}(2)\) pairs. Conversely, the authors also show how one can construct \(\widehat{sl}(2)_{k'}\) representations starting from that of \(\widehat{sl}(2|1)_k\). The paper contains four appendices on quantum group relations, charged singular vectors, some properties of \(\widehat{D}(2|1,\alpha)\) and OPE's.