Conformal algebras, vertex algebras, and the logic of locality

Abstract

Abstract In a new algebraic approach, conformal algebras and vertex algebras are extended to two-sorted structures, with an additional component encoding the logical properties of locality. Within these algebras, locality is expressed as an identity, without the need for existential quantifiers. Two-sorted conformal algebras form a variety of two-sorted algebras, an equationally-defined class, and free conformal algebras are given by standard universal algebraic constructions. The variety of two-sorted conformal algebras is equivalent to a Mal’tsev variety of single-sorted algebras. Motivated by a question of Griess, subalgebras of reducts of conformal algebras are shown to satisfy a set of quasi-identities. The class of two-sorted vertex algebras does not form a variety, so open problems concerning the nature of that class are posed.