NON-LOCAL EXTENSIONS OF THE CONFORMAL ALGEBRA : MATRIX -ALGEBRAS, MATRIX KdV-HIERARCHIES AND NON-ABELIAN TODA THEORIES,
arXiv:hep-th/9501033
Abstract
In the present contribution, I report on certain {\it non-linear} and {\it non-local} extensions of the conformal (Virasoro) algebra. These so-called -algebras are matrix generalizations of -algebras. First, in the context of two-dimensional field theory, I discuss the non-abelian Toda model which possesses three conserved (chiral) ``currents". The Poisson brackets of these ``currents" give the simplest example of a -algebra. The classical solutions of this model provide a free-field realization of the -algebra. Then I show that this -algebra is identical to the second Gelfand-Dikii symplectic structure on the manifold of -matrix Schrödinger operators $L=-\d^2+U$ (with $\trσ_3 U=0$). This provides a relation with matrix KdV-hierarchies and allows me to obtain an infinite family of conserved charges (Hamiltonians in involution). Finally, I work out the general -algebras as symplectic structures based on -matrix -order differential operators $L=-\d^m +U_2\d^{m-2}+U_3 \d^{m-3}+\ldots +U_m$. It is the absence of , together with the non-commutativity of matrices that leads to the non-local terms in the -algebras. I show that the conformal properties are similar to those of -algebras, while the complete -algebras are much more complicated, as is shown on the explicit example of .
30 pages, uses phyzzx, lecture given at the "59. Rencontre de Strasbourg"