Gluing vertex algebras

Abstract

We relate commutative algebras in braided tensor categories to braid-reversed tensor equivalences, motivated by vertex algebra representation theory. First, for C a braided tensor category, we give a detailed account of the canonical algebra construction in the Deligne product C⊠Crev. Especially, we show that if C is semisimple but not necessarily finite or rigid, then ⨁X∈Irr(C)X′⊠X is a commutative algebra, where X′ is a representing object for the functor HomC(•⊗CX,1C) (assuming X′ exists) and the sum runs over all inequivalent simple objects of U. Conversely, let A=⨁i∈IUi⊠Vi be a simple commutative algebra in a Deligne product U⊠V with U semisimple and rigid but not necessarily finite, and V rigid but not necessarily semisimple. We show that if the unit objects 1U and 1V form a commuting pair in A in a suitable sense, then there is a braid-reversed equivalence between (sub)categories of U and V that sends Ui to Vi⁎.These results apply when U and V are braided (vertex) tensor categories of modules for simple vertex operator algebras U and V, respectively: Given τ:Irr(U)→Obj(V) such that τ(U)=V, we glue U and V along U⊠V via τ to create A=⨁X∈Irr(U)X′⊗τ(X). Then under certain conditions, τ extends to a braid-reversed equivalence between U and V if and only if A has a simple conformal vertex algebra structure that (conformally) extends U⊗V. As examples, we glue suitable Kazhdan-Lusztig categories at generic levels to construct new vertex algebras extending the tensor product of two affine vertex subalgebras, and we prove braid-reversed equivalences between certain module subcategories for affine vertex algebras and W-algebras at admissible levels.