Vertex Algebras and Gauge Theory: December 17 – 21, 2018

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Organized by Sergei Gukov, Tomoyuki Arakawa, Boris Feigin, Alba Grassi, Hiraku Nakajima, Nikita Nekrasov, Andrei Okounkov

Vertex operator algebras have a long history of interaction with physics by describing two-dimensional systems at criticality. More recently, they appeared, via BPS/CFT correspondence, in the context of higher-dimensional gauge theories and associated brane constructions in string theory. For example, there are vertex algebras associated to 4-manifolds and to the 4d N=2 superconformal theories. Parallel developments in mathematics led to construction of the associated varieties for VOAs and geometric realizations of vertex algebras through the (generalized) cohomology of various moduli spaces. By bringing together the experts in physics and mathematics of gauge theories and vertex algebras we hope to understand the relation between these algebraic and geometric structures and to find new ones.