Constructions of vertex operator coalgebras via vertex operator algebras

Abstract

The notion of vertex operator coalgebra is presented which corresponds to the family of correlation functions of one string propagating in space-time splitting into n strings in conformal field theory. This notion is in some sense dual to the notion of vertex operator algebra. We prove that any vertex operator algebra equipped with a non-degenerate, Virasoro preserving, bilinear form gives rise to a corresponding vertex operator coalgebra.