Open-string vertex algebras, tensor categories and operads (Q2565618)

The authors introduce ``open-string-theoretic'' and ``noncommutative'' generalizations of the notions of vertex operator algebra and conformal vertex algebra. The new objects are called open-string vertex algebra and conformal open-string vertex algebra. Using these algebras, the authors, in particular, solve the problem of constructing open-closed conformal field theories on the disks satisfying certain differentiability and meromorphicity conditions. Further, given an open-string vertex algebra, the authors show that there exists a vertex algebra, which the authors call the ``meromorphic center'', inside the open-string vertex algebra such that the open-string vertex algebra yields a module and an intertwining operator for the meromorphic center. This is used to derive a general method of constructing open-string vertex algebras, which is illustrated in the paper by several (non-trivial) examples. The authors establish an equivalence between grading-restricted conformal open-string vertex algebras containing a suitable vertex operator algebra and associative algebras in the braided tensor category of modules for the vertex operator algebra. It turns out that under this equivalence the meromorphic center is contained in the intersection of the left and the right centers of the corresponding associative algebra. Finally, the authors give a geometric and operadic formulation of the notion of grading-restricted conformal open-string vertex algebra.