Convergence in Conformal Field Theory

Abstract

Convergence and analytic extension are of fundamental importance in the mathematical construction and study of conformal field theory. The author reviews some main convergence results, conjectures and problems in the construction and study of conformal field theories using the representation theory of vertex operator algebras. He also reviews the related analytic extension results, conjectures and problems. He discusses the convergence and analytic extensions of products of intertwining operators (chiral conformal fields) and of q-traces and pseudo-q-traces of products of intertwining operators. He also discusses the convergence results related to the sewing operation and the determinant line bundle and a higher-genus convergence result. He then explains conjectures and problems on the convergence and analytic extensions in orbifold conformal field theory and in the cohomology theory of vertex operator algebras.