Analytic Conformal Blocks of $C_2$-cofinite Vertex Operator Algebras III: The Sewing-Factorization Theorems

Let $\mathbb V=\bigoplus_{n\in\mathbb N}\mathbb V(n)$ be a $C_2$-cofinite VOA, not necessarily rational or self-dual. In this paper, we establish various versions of the sewing-factorization (SF) theorems for conformal blocks associated to grading-restricted generalized modules of $\mathbb V^{\otimes N}$ (where $N\in\mathbb N$). In addition to the versions announced in the Introduction of [GZ23], we prove the following coend version of the SF theorem: Let $\mathfrak F$ be a compact Riemann surface with $N$ incoming and $R$ outgoing marked points, and let $\mathfrak G$ be another compact Riemann surface with $K$ incoming and $R$ outgoing marked points. Assign $\mathbb W\in\mathrm{Mod}(\mathbb V^{\otimes N})$ and $\mathbb X\in\mathrm{Mod}(\mathbb V^{\otimes K})$ to the incoming marked points of $\mathfrak F$ and $\mathfrak G$ respectively. For each $\mathbb{M} \in \mathrm{Mod}(\mathbb{V}^{\otimes R})$, assign $\mathbb{M}$ and its contragredient $\mathbb M’$ to the outgoing marked points of $\mathfrak F$ and $\mathfrak G$ respectively. Denote the corresponding spaces of conformal blocks by $\mathscr T_{\mathfrak F}^(\mathbb M\otimes\mathbb W)$ and $\mathscr T_{\mathfrak{G}}^(\mathbb M’\otimes\mathbb X)$. Let the $\mathfrak X$ be the $(N+K)$-pointed surface obtained by sewing $\mathfrak F$, $\mathfrak G$ along their outgoing marked points. Then the sewing of conformal blocks-proved to be convergent in [GZ25a]-yields an isomorphism of vector spaces $$\int^{\mathbb{M}\in\mathrm{Mod}(\mathbb V^{\otimes R})}\mathscr T_{\mathfrak F}^(\mathbb M\otimes\mathbb{W})\otimes_{\mathbb C} \mathscr T_{\mathfrak G}^(\mathbb M’\otimes \mathbb X)\simeq\mathscr T_{\mathfrak X}^*(\mathbb W\otimes \mathbb X)$$ We also discuss the relationship between conformal blocks and the modular functors defined using Lyubashenko’s coend/construction.

💡 Research Summary

The paper establishes a comprehensive set of sewing‑factorization (SF) theorems for conformal blocks of a C₂‑cofinite vertex operator algebra (VOA) V that need not be rational or self‑dual. Working with grading‑restricted generalized V‑modules, the authors first recall that conformal blocks on a compact Riemann surface C with marked points form finite‑dimensional vector spaces (\mathscr T_{C}^{*}(W)) and that the block functor is left‑exact.

The main geometric setup involves two compact surfaces F and G, each equipped with R outgoing marked points (and N, K incoming points respectively). To each incoming point one assigns modules W∈Mod(V^{⊗N}) and X∈Mod(V^{⊗K}); to each outgoing point one assigns a module M∈Mod(V^{⊗R}) on F and its contragredient M′ on G. Sewing F and G along the R pairs of outgoing points with complex parameters p yields a new (N+K)-pointed surface Xₚ.

For each M the authors define a “contraction” map \