CMSA Quantum Matter in Mathematics and Physics: Harmonic analysis of 2d CFT partition functions

CMSA EVENTS

Speaker:

Nathan Benjamin - Princeton+Caltech

I will discuss applying the theory of harmonic analysis on the fundamental domain of SL(2,Z) to partition functions of 2d conformal field theories. As an application I will decompose the partition function of c free bosons on a Narain lattice into eigenfunctions of the Laplacians of worldsheet moduli space H/SL(2,Z) and of target space moduli space O(c,c;Z)\O(c,c;R)/O(c)xO(c). This decomposition will make certain properties of Narain theories including their ensemble averages manifest. I will also discuss applying harmonic analysis to a general irrational 2d CFT and its connection with gravity in AdS3. I will prove that the primary spectrum of any 2d CFT is fully determined by a certain subset of degeneracies.

Zoom: https://harvard.zoom.us/j/977347126