Given any vertex operator algebra V, Zhu defined an associative algebra A(V), and showed that to any A(V)-module, one can associate an admissible V-module. This gives rise to a functor taking n-tuples of A(V)-modules to a sheaf of coinvariants (and its dual sheaf of conformal blocks) on the moduli space of stable n-pointed curves of genus g. If V is strongly rational (in which case A(V) is finite and semi-simple), much is known about these sheaves, including that they are coherent and satisfy a factorization property. Factorization ultimately allows one to show the sheaves are vector bundles with Chern classes in the tautological ring. In this talk I will describe a program in which we are aiming for analogous results after removing the assumption of rationality. As a first step, we replace the standard factorization formula with an inductive one that holds for sheaves defined by modules over any VOA of CFT-type. As an application, we show that if V is strongly finite, then sheaves of coinvariants and conformal blocks are coherent. This is a preliminary description of new and ongoing joint work with Krashen and Damiolini, extending work with Damiolini and Tarasca.

This video was produced by the Japan-US Mathematics Institute and forms part of JAMI Conference 2022.