Vertex Operator Algebras

Arne Meurman and Ph.D. students are working on the structure and representation theory of vertex operator algebras. These are algebraic structures that are a basic component in conformal field theory and string theory in theoretical physics. In mathematics they have close connections to representation theory of certain Kac-Moody Lie algebras, modular forms and modular functions, and finite group theory. Meurman has collaboration in this field since many years with James Lepowsky (Rutgers), Igor Frenkel (Yale) and Mirko Primc (Zagreb).

In another direction, Meurman cooperates with Gert Almkvist and others on certain problems in Number Theory. These are connected to Calabi-Yau differential equations, modular forms and functions, and special values of L-functions