Duality via convolution of W-algebras

Kac-Moody (super)algebras; extended affine Lie algebras; toroidal Lie algebras (17B67) Vertex operators; vertex operator algebras and related structures (17B69) Infinite-dimensional groups and algebras motivated by physics, including Virasoro, Kac-Moody, (W)-algebras and other current algebras and their representations (81R10)

Review text

Affine \(\mathcal{W}\)-algebras are an important class of vertex algebras obtained by quantum Drinfeld-Sokolov reduction of affine vertex algebras. Given a finite-dimensional simple Lie algebra \(\mathfrak{g}\), a level \(k\in\mathbb{C}\), and a nilpotent element \(f\in\mathfrak{g}\), there is a \(\mathcal{W}\)-algebra \(\mathcal{W}^k(\mathfrak{g},f)\) obtained by the reduction associated to \(f\) of the universal affine vertex algebra \(V^k(\mathfrak{g})\). When \(f\) is a principal nilpotent element, the \(\mathcal{W}\)-algebras \(\mathcal{W}^k(\mathfrak{g})=\mathcal{W}^k(\mathfrak{g},f_{prin})\) satisfy Feigin-Frenkel duality [\textit{B. Feigin} and \textit{E. Frenkel}, Int. Math. Res. Not. 1991, No. 6, 75-82 (1991; Zbl 0790.17013)], which asserts that \(\mathcal{W}^k(\mathfrak{g})\cong W^\ell({}^L\mathfrak{g})\) for \({}^L\mathfrak{g}\) the Langlands dual of \(\mathfrak{g}\) and \(\ell\) a certain level dual to \(k\). More recently, motivated by physical considerations, \textit{D. Gaiotto} and \textit{M. Rapčák} conjectured [J. High Energy Phys. 2019, No. 1, Paper No. 160, 88 p. (2019; Zbl 1409.81148)] a certain generalization of Feigin-Frenkel duality for \(\mathcal{W}\)-algebras in type \(A\) associated to hook-type nilpotent elements, which are represented by partitions with hook-shaped Young diagrams. In this generalized duality, which was proved by the first two authors of the paper under review in [Camb. J. Math. 10, No. 1, 69--194 (2022; Zbl 1537.17046)] and generalized to other classical types in [Adv. Math. 409, Part B, Article ID 108678, 79 p. (2022; Zbl 1504.18016)], it is not the \(\mathcal{W}\)-algebras themselves that are isomorphic, but rather their affine cosets (the commutants of their maximal affine vertex subalgebras).\N\NIn the paper under review, the authors consider whether two hook-type \(\mathcal{W}\)-algebras that are dual in this sense can be constructed from each other in some natural way. They show this can be done at levels \(k\notin\mathbb{Q}\) by proving that either of the two dual hook-type \(\mathcal{W}\)-algebras can be obtained from the other by tensoring with a certain ``kernel vertex algebra and then taking a relative semi-infinite cohomology. The kernel vertex algebras here are conformal extensions of the tensor product of two universal affine vertex algebras which generalize the vertex algebras of chiral differential operators. They were constructed by \textit{Y. Moriwaki} [Sel. Math., New Ser. 28, No. 4, Paper No. 68, 49 p. (2022; Zbl 1507.17047)]. Some of the simplest special cases of the authors' main result on constructing dual hook-type \(\mathcal{W}\)-algebras from each other, involving subregular \(\mathcal{W}\)-algebras in types \(A\), \(B\) which are dual to principal \(\mathcal{W}\)-superalgebras of \(\mathfrak{sl}(1\vert n)\), \(\mathfrak{osp}(2\vert 2n)\), were proved earlier in [\textit{T. Creutzig} et al., Adv. Math. 383, Article ID 107685, 52 p. (2021; Zbl 1495.17038)].

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