Representations and characters of the Virasoro algebra and N=1 super-Virasoro algebras

Abstract

We present the list of irreducible (generalized) highest weight modules over the Virasoro algebra and N=1 super-Virasoro algebras obtained as factor-modules of (generalized) Verma modules. We present also the character formulae of all these modules and single out the unitary irreducible ones. Most formulas are valid for the three algebras under consideration, the different cases being distinguished by two parameters. This is a slightly extended version of an Encyclopedia entry.