The Schrödinger-Virasoro algebra. Mathematical structure and dynamical Schrödinger symmetries. With a foreword by Malte Henkel (Q639264)

This monograph presents an accurate and self-contained description of the so-called Schrödinger-Virasoro algebra, an infinite dimensional Lie algebra containing the Virasoro algebra and originally introduced in the context of statistical physics, but that soon showed to appear naturally in many other problems like Poisson geometry, representation theory and spectral theory. As an algebra of non-relativistic conformal symmetries, the Schrödinger-Virasoro algebra is expected to be a key structure for the understanding of the non-relativistic AdS/CFT correspondence. The text is preceded by a foreword written by one of the main experts in the field, and enumerates important problems where the Schrödinger-Virasoro structure plays a dominant role. This introduction gives a precise description of conformal invariance in modern physics, and also relates to current mathematical problems of relevance. The book is divided into eleven chapters, with two technical appendices providing detailed proofs of some results used in the text. Chapters one and two contain the basic material needed for later use in the book, as well as general definitions and nomenclature. The geometric background of Schrödinger-invariant theories is discussed, starting from the well-known groups of Newtonian mechanics. In this context, the Schrödinger-Virasoro group also arises as a symmetry group, but based on slighter weaker assumptions. Only properties of the Schrödinger-Virasoro group that are related to the Newton-Cartan structures are discussed, while in chapter two the gradings are introduced. The two known independent gradings of the Schrödinger-Virasoro algebra are reviewed, and its derivation as a subalgebra of the extended Poisson algebra on the torus revisited. An important result in this chapter refers to a ``no-go'' theorem for the Schrödinger-Virasoro algebra. In chapter three the coadjoint representation of the Schrödinger-Virasoro group is considered, with a detailed analysis of the coadjoint orbits. These results are of importance in the study of various types of representations of \(\mathfrak{sv}\), extended and adapted from the representation theory of the Virasoro algebra. In this context, induced and coinduced representations are discussed, and various explicit formulae are given. It should be mentioned that from this analysis, the separation of the coadjoint representation is fully justified, as it does not correspond to a coinduced representation. With chapter six the more physical treatment of the Schrödinger-Virasoro algebra begins. First of all, the extended Schrödinger-Virasoro algebra is defined, and Schrödinger-Virasoro (primary) fields are constructed. With the help of these notions, it is conjectured how to construct massive fields by means of analytical prolongation. This chapter, being one of the most interesting of the book, also is one of the most technical ones, and some proofs are postponed to an appendix. Chapter seven is devoted to cohomology theory. In analogy to the well-known monograph of \textit{D. B. Fuks} [``Cohomology of infinite dimensional Lie algebras'', Moskva: ``Nauka'' (1984; Zbl 0592.17011)], various cohomology groups are computed and the corresponding deformations of the algebra classified. The most notable result in this section is the discovery of cocycles containing an anti-derivative, contrary to established assumptions. Such unusual types of cocycles have however potential applications in Hamiltonian systems, and should therefore be inspected more closely. The next three chapters (8-10) are devoted to study the action of the Schrödinger-Virasoro group on the affine and linear space of Schrödinger operators of special form. To this extent, affine cocycles are introduced and the action described, notably on the space of generalized harmonic oscillators. Chapter 9 describes the orbit structure for the action on the latter spaces, leading to a classification by means of isotropy groups. The monodromy of time-dependent Schrödinger operators on the previous spaces is determined. The restricted action is moreover shown to be Hamiltonian for an adequate Poisson structure. The assumption on restricted actions is dropped in chapter 10, where the general case is studied. Here again the action is proved to be Hamiltonian for an adequate Poisson structure, inherited from a loop space over pseudo-differential symbols. Chapter 11 deals with supersymmetric extensions of the Schrödinger-Virasoro algebra. Although extensions of the Schrödinger algebra have been considered from the quantum mechanical point of view, the perspective adopted in this section is field-theoretical. The free Schrödinger and Lévy-Leblond equations are combined into a so-called super-Schrödinger model possessing a kinematical supersymmetry algebra with \(N=2\) supercharges. The latter is explicitly computed and shown to be isomorphic to the semi-direct product \(\mathfrak{osp}(2 | 2)\times \mathfrak{sh}(2)\). Generalizing this result, for arbitrary \(N\) a supersymmetric extension with \(N\) supercharges is constructed (Schrödinger-Neveu-Schwarz algebra). The implications of supersymmetric covariance are discussed in detail. One point concerning this part is intriguing. At the beginning of this chapter, a section presenting the conclusions is announced, although no section 11.5 of the book exists. Summarizing, this book constitutes an excellent report on the current status of research concerning the Schrödinger-Virasoro group and its applications in physics. Many of the results presented are actually recent research results, and the conclusions open new and interesting possibilities for further applications. This monograph will certainly become one of the canonical references in the subject.