Riemann surfaces, Clifford algebras and infinite dimensional groups

Abstract

We introduce a class of Riemann surfaces which possess a fixed point free involution and line bundles over these surfaces with which we can associate an infinite dimensional Clifford algebra. Acting by automorphisms of this algebra is a “gauge” group of meromorphic functions on the Riemann surface. There is a natural Fock representation of the Clifford algebra and an associated projective representation of this group of meromorphic functions in close analogy with the construction of the basic representation of Kac-Moody algebras via a Fock representation of the Fermion algebra. In the genus one case we find a form of vertex operator construction which allows us to prove a version of the Boson-Fermion correspondence. These results are motivated by the analysis of soliton solutions of the Landau-Lifshitz equation and are rather distinct from recent developments in quantum field theory on Riemann surfaces.