Modularity in orbifold theory for vertex operator superalgebras (Q818621)

Modular invariance of trace functions of simple modules plays a crucial role in the theory of vertex operator algebras. Such modular invariance for \(C_2\)-cofinite rational vertex operator algebras was first established by \textit{Y. Zhu} [J. Am. Math. Soc. 9, No. 1, 237--302 (1996; Zbl 0854.17034)]. \textit{C. Dong}, \textit{H. Li} and \textit{G. Mason} [Commun. Math. Phys. 214, 1--56 (2000; Zbl 1061.17025)] extended the results to the orbifold theory, namely, the trace functions of simple twisted modules associated to any commuting pairs in a finite automorphism group of a vertex operator algebra. In the paper under review a super version is studied. The authors present a general theory of modular invariance of the trace functions associated to simple twisted modules for a vertex operator superalgebra \(V=V_{\overline 0}\oplus V_{\overline 1}\) and its finite automorphism group \(G\). Let \(\sigma\) be the canonical automorphism of \(V\), which is \((-1)^i\) on \(V_{\overline i}\) and \(\overline G\) be the group generated by \(G\) and \(\sigma\). For \(g,h\in G\) and a simple \(\sigma h\)-stable \(\sigma g\)-twisted \(V\)-module \(M\), the trace function \(T_M(v,(g,h),q)\) with \(v\in V\) is defined. Under the \(C_2\)-cofiniteness and the \(x\)-rationality conditions for all \(x\in\overline G\), it is shown that the trace functions are holomorphic in the upper half plane and that the space spanned by the trace functions is finite dimensional and \(\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb Z)\)-invariant. The transformation formulas are given explicitly. Several important corollaries such as the rationality of the central charge and the number of inequivalent simple twisted modules are also obtained.