Self-Dual Vertex Operator Superalgebras and Superconformal Field Theory

Abstract

Recent work has related the equivariant elliptic genera of sigma models with K3 surface target to a vertex operator superalgebra that realizes moonshine for Conway's group. Motivated by this we consider conditions under which a self-dual vertex operator superalgebra may be identified with the bulk Hilbert space of a superconformal field theory. After presenting a classification result for self-dual vertex operator superalgebras with central charge up to 12 we describe several examples of close relationships with bulk superconformal field theories, including those arising from sigma models for tori and K3 surfaces.