Vertex Algebras for Beginners (University Lecture Series, Vol. 10)

This is a revised and expanded edition of Kac's original introduction to algebraic aspects of conformal field theory, which was published by the AMS in 1996. The volume serves as an introduction to algebraic aspects of conformal field theory, which in the past 15 years revealed a variety of unusual mathematical notions. Vertex algebra theory provides an effective tool to study them in a unified way. In the book, a mathematician encounters new algebraic structures that originated from Einstein's special relativity postulate and Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. A physicist will find familiar notions presented in a more rigorous and systematic way, possibly leading to a better understanding of foundations of quantum physics. This book is an introduction to algebraic aspects of conformal field theory, which has revealed a variety of unusual mathematical notions. This book is intended for graduate students, research mathematicians, and physicists interested in mathematical aspects of quantum field theory. Based on courses given by the author at MIT and at Rome University in spring 1997, this book presents an introduction to algebraic aspects of conformal field theory. It includes material on the foundations of a rapidly growing area of algebraic conformal theory. Vertex Algebras introduces the algebraic aspects of conformal field theory and provides access to many unusual mathematical notions Victor Kac. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.