On modular invariance of quantum affine $W$-algebras

Abstract

We find modular transformations of normalized characters for the following $W$-algebras: (a) $W^{min}_k(\frak{g})$, where $\frak{g}=D_n \, (n \geq 4)$, or $E_6$, $E_7$, $E_8$, and $k$ is a negative integer $\geq -2$, or $\geq -\frac{h^{\vee}}{6}-1$, respectively; (b) quantum Hamiltonian reduction of the $\hat{\frak{g}}$-module $L(k\Lambda_0)$, where $\frak{g}$ is a simple Lie algebra, $f$ is its non-zero nilpotent element, and $k$ is a principal admissible level with the denominator $u > \theta(x)$, where $2x$ is the Dynkin characteristic of $f$ and $\theta$ is the highest root of $\frak{g}$. We prove that these vertex algebras are modular invariant. A conformal vertex algebra is called modular invariant if its character $tr_V q^{L_0-c/24}$ converges to a holomorphic modular function in the complex upper half-plane on a congruence subgroup. We find explicit formulas for their characters. Modular invariance of $V$ is important since, in particular, conjecturally it implies that $V$ is simple, and that $V$ is rational, provided that it is lisse.