W-algebras arising as chiral algebras of conformal field theory

TL;DR

This paper discusses the emergence of W-algebras as the underlying chiral algebra structures in conformal field theory, providing a survey of known W-algebras and their construction methods.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of W-algebras as chiral algebras in conformal field theory and surveys existing W-algebras and their explicit constructions.

Findings

W-algebras serve as chiral algebra structures in conformal field theory

A comprehensive survey of known W-algebras and their construction methods

Identification of W-algebras as a key feature in the algebraic structure of conformal field theories

Abstract

It is argued that chiral algebras of conformal field theory possess a W-algebra structure. A survey of explicitly known W-algebras and their constructions is given. (Talk given at the XIX International Colloquium on ``Group Theoretical Methods in Physics'', Salamanca, Spain, June 29 -- July 4, 1992)