Virasoro blocks and the reparametrization formalism

Abstract

Abstract An effective theory designed to compute Virasoro identity blocks at large central charge, expressed in terms of the propagation of a reparametrization/shadow mode between bilocal vertices, was recently put forward. In this paper I provide the formal theoretical framework underlying this effective theory by reformulating it in terms of standard concepts: conformal geometry, generating functionals and Feynman diagrams. A key ingredient to this formalism is the bilocal vertex operator, or reparametrized two-point function, which is shown to generate arbitrary stress tensor insertions into a two-point function of reference. I also suggest an extension of the formalism designed to compute generic Virasoro blocks.