Haagerup symmetries of the E8E_8 theory and conformal nets at central charge eight

A mix of human-written and AI-generated textHuman understanding: some partsmath.QA — Quantum Algebra

Contributed by Cédric ARHANCET

Version 2 / Nov 03, 2026 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Abstract

A Haagerup algebra is a positive strongly rational vertex operator algebra UU of central charge eight with Rep(U)\mathrm{Rep}(U) braided equivalent to the Drinfeld center Z(H3)Z(\cal H_3) of the Haagerup fusion category. We prove that UU has exactly three holomorphic extensions, each isomorphic to VE8V_{E_8}, and that the corresponding Lagrangian algebras have module categories H1\cal H_1, H2\cal H_2 and H3\cal H_3. The extensions attached to H2\cal H_2 and H3\cal H_3 are the two lattice extensions of VE6⊕A2V_{E_6 \oplus A_2}. We prove a recognition theorem for H2\cal H_2 and H3\cal H_3 among unitary fusion categories of rank six with three invertible objects, a noncommutative Grothendieck ring and trivial pointed associator. For simple regular unitary vertex operator algebras with bounded localized vertex operators, we construct the transport module of two ordinary unitary modules when the second integrates in Tener's annular sense. For a unitary conformal Haagerup subalgebra of VE6⊕A2V_{E_6 \oplus A_2}, these results give a completely rational net with representation category Z(H3)Z(\cal H_3), a realization of the Haagerup subfactor and the generalized orbifold of Bischoff. In particular, they apply to the strongly local explicit algebra SS of levels (3,13)(3,13), whose Haagerup property is established in \cite[Theorem 6.1]{ArhIII}. In \cite{ArhIII}, the net of SS is recognized from strong rationality and lattice branching, and a diagonal extension of the net is then used to identify Rep(S)\mathrm{Rep}(S). Here an exact construction of the compatible unitary structure on the diagonal lattice algebra VE8⊕E8V_{E_8 \oplus E_8}, followed by passage to the twin algebra, proves complete unitarity and Condition I+ for every Haagerup algebra. This also gives the VOA--net comparison through smeared vertex operators for unitary conformal embeddings in VE6⊕A2V_{E_6 \oplus A_2}.

Author comments: 66 pages

Provenance statement

The author acknowledges the use of AI tools for language polishing, exploratory mathematical discussions and feedback, for drafting parts of the arguments. The author takes full responsibility for the content of the manuscript.

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