Duality structures for representation categories of vertex operator algebras and the Feigin-Fuchs boson (Q7004007)

The article under review studies the categorical structure on representation category of vertex operator algebras (VOAs). VOAs are the algebraic structure of the chiral part of the two dimensional conformal field theories in physics and known to have a rich structure on the representation categories. Indeed, a novel braided tensor structure was established for the affine vertex algebras (equivalently the affine Kac-Moody Lie algebras) in a seminal work by Kazhdan-Lusztig, which are equivalent to the representation categories of quantum groups, a class of Hopf algebras. Since then, the braided tensor structure on the representation categories of vertex operator algebras has been investigated by Huang-Lepowsky and Huang-Lepowsky-Zhang. The work by Huang-Lepowsky concerns so-called the rational case, when the representation category is finite semisimple. Later, it was established that the category inherits the modular tensor structure, and thus the rigidity (the appropriate notion of duality for monoidal categories) holds. \N\NOn the other hand, the work by Huang-Lepowski-Zhang established the braided tensor structure on the representation category under suitable assumptions. It has been widely believed that the representation categories for VOAs are equivalent to the representation categories of Hopf algebras or their variants as braided tensor categories, generalizing the original work of Kazhdan-Lusztig. One of the key properties to establish the equivalence has been noticed to be the rigidity of the category. Indeed, the categories obtained from Hopf algebras enjoy the rigidity by construction whereas it is not a priori given on the VOA side; moreover, it is not the case in general [\textit{M. R. Gaberdiel} et al., J. Phys. A, Math. Theor. 42, No. 32, Article ID 325403, 43 p. (2009; Zbl 1179.81145)]. \N\NOne of the main contributions of the article under review is that the representation category on the VOA side yet inherits a natural structure of the Grothendieck-Verdier category in general, a relaxed notion of the rigidity. This is rather natural from two view points: the ambiguity of conformal structure on the VOA side and the appearance of such a structure on the Hopf algebra side when one considers generalizations of Hopf algebras. \N\NAs commented in the article, it implies several general results such as the existence of internal homs. The article provides exemplifies the Grothendieck-Verdier structure on the lattice vertex algebras with (1) comparison to the category of graded vector spaces and the (quasi-triangular, quasi-)Hopf algebras in the most general form, called the bosonic lattice data (2) the generalized Verlinde formula, called the standard module formalism.