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# Untitled Document

On chiral differential operators over homogeneous spaces

Vassily Gorbounov, Fyodor Malikov, Vadim Schechtman

Introduction

The notion of an algebra of chiral differential operators (cdo for short) over a smooth algebraic variety $`X`$ has been studied in \[GII\]. (This notion has been invented and first studied, in a different language, by Beilinson and Drinfeld, cf. \[BD1\], Chapter 3, §8). In the present note we consider some examples in more detail. We shall work over the ground field $``$.

First, we give a classification of cdo over $`X`$ in the following cases: $`X=G`$ is an affine algebraic group; $`X=G/N`$ or $`G/P`$ where $`N`$ is a unipotent subgroup and $`P`$ is a parabolic subgroup and $`G`$ is simple (the extension to the case of a semisimple $`G`$ being straightforward).

Before we describe the result, let us explain some terminology and notation. For a smooth algebraic variety $`X`$, an algebra of cdo over $`X`$ is by definition a Zariski sheaf $`𝒱`$ of $`_0`$-graded vertex algebras on $`X`$ such that

(a) if $`Alg(𝒱)=(𝒜,𝒯,\mathrm{\Omega },,\gamma ,,,c)`$ is the sheaf of vertex algebroids associated with $`𝒱`$ (see \[GII\], $`\mathrm{\S }2`$), then the corresponding extended Lie algebroid $`(𝒜,𝒯,\mathrm{\Omega },)`$ (op. cit., 1.1, 1.4) is identified with $`(𝒪_X,\mathrm{\Theta }_X,\mathrm{\Omega }_X^1,d_{DR})`$ where $`\mathrm{\Theta }_X`$ denotes the tangent bundle and $`d_{DR}`$ the de Rham differential;

(b) the adjunction morphism $`UAlg(𝒱)𝒱`$ is an isomorphism. Here $`U`$ is the functor of vertex envelope defined in op. cit., §9.

For each Zariski open $`UX`$ we can consider the category (a groupoid in fact) of cdo over $`U`$, or, what is the same, the groupoid of vertex algebroids (defined in \[GII\], §3) over $`U`$ satisfying (a) above. When $`U`$ varies, we get a sheaf of groupoids $`𝔇iff_X^{ch}`$ over $`X`$ — the gerbe of chiral differential operators. As usual, $`\mathrm{\Gamma }(U;𝔇iff_X^{ch})`$ will denote the sections over $`U`$; a generic object of this category will be sometimes denoted $`𝒟_U^{ch}`$; the set of isomorphism classes of cdo over $`U`$ will be denoted by $`\pi _0(\mathrm{\Gamma }(U;𝔇iff_X^{ch}))`$.

Let $`G`$ be an affine connected algebraic group, $`𝔤`$ the corresponding Lie algebra. For each symmetric ad-invariant bilinear form $`(,)(S^2𝔤^{})^𝔤`$ we construct a cdo $`𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}`$ over $`G`$ such that if $`G`$ is semisimple, then the correspondence $`(,)𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}`$ gives rise to a bijection

$$(S^2𝔤^{})^𝔤\stackrel{}{}\pi _0(\mathrm{\Gamma }(G,𝔇iff_G^{ch}))$$
$`(I1)`$
We have a canonical embedding of vertex algebras

$$i_{(,)}:𝒱_{𝔤,(,)}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}$$
$`(I2)`$
where $`𝒱_{𝔤;(,)}`$ denotes the vacuum module of the Kac-Moody algebra $`\widehat{𝔤}`$ at level $`(,)`$. This embedding is induced by the embedding of $`𝔤`$ into $`T_G:=\mathrm{\Gamma }(G;\mathrm{\Theta }_G)`$ as left invariant vector fields.

Let $`(,)_{𝔤;(K)}`$ denote the Killing form on $`𝔤`$. Let us define the dual level by

$$(,)^o=(,)_{𝔤;(K)}(,)$$
$`(I3)`$
Using the embedding $`𝔤T_G`$ by means of right invariant vector fields one can construct a canonical dual embedding of vertex algebras

$$i_{(,)}^o:𝒱_{𝔤;(,)^o}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}$$
$`(I4)`$
It is characterised by the requirement that the images of $`i_{(,)}`$ and $`i_{(,)}^o`$ commute in an appropriate sense (see Theorem 2.5 and Corollary 2.6). This beautiful fact was communicated to us by B.Feigin, E.Frenkel and D.Gaitsgory. We give a proof using the language of \[GII\].

Let us pass to homogeneous spaces. Assume that $`G`$ is simple. Let $`NG`$ be a unipotent group. The classification of cdo over $`G/N`$ is the same as over $`G`$; namely, for each level $`(,)`$ one can define a cdo $`𝒟_{G/N;(,)}^{ch}`$ such that the correspondence $`(,)𝒟_{G/N;(,)}^{ch}`$ induces a bijection

$$(S^2𝔤^{})^𝔤\stackrel{}{}\pi _0(\mathrm{\Gamma }(G/N;𝔇iff_{G/N}^{ch}))$$
$`(I5)`$
The sheaves $`𝒟_{G/N;(,)}^{ch}`$ are constructed using the BRST (or quantum Hamiltonian) reduction of the corresponding cdo’s on $`G`$. More precisely,

$$𝒟_{G/N;(,)}^{ch}=H_{BRST}^0(L𝔫;\pi _{}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch})$$
$`(I6)`$
where the rhs denotes the BRST cohomology of the loop algebra $`L𝔫:=𝔫[T,T^1],𝔫:=Lie(N)`$. For the precise definition see §3.

Let $`BG`$ be a Borel subgroup. We show that there exists a unique, up to a unique isomorphism, cdo $`𝒟_{G/B}^{ch}`$ on the flag space $`G/B`$. Again this cdo may be constructed using the BRST reduction. Namely,

$$𝒟_{G/B}^{ch}=H_{BRST}^0(L𝔟,𝔥;\pi _{}𝒟_{G;crit}^{ch})$$
$`(I7)`$
Here $`𝒟_{G;crit}^{ch}`$ is by definition the cdo $`𝒟_{G;(,)_{crit}}^{ch}`$ on the critical level $`(,)_{crit}=(,)_{𝔤;(K)}/2`$. For the definition of the relative BRST cohomology in the rhs we again refer the reader to the main body of the note, see §4. (A more explicit construction of the sheaf $`𝒟_{G/B}^{ch}`$ for $`G=SL(n)`$, using vertex operators, has been suggested in \[MSV\], 5.9-5.10.)

The embeddings (I4) induce canonical morphisms of vertex algebras

$$𝒱_{𝔤;(,)^o}𝒟_{G/N;(,)}^{ch};𝒱_{𝔤;(,)_{crit}}𝒟_{G/B}^{ch}$$
$`(I8)`$
Taking the spaces of sections over a big cell, we get another construction of Feigin-Frenkel Wakimoto modules, cf. \[FF1\] - \[FF3\].

Finally, if $`PG`$ is parabolic but not Borel, we show that $`\mathrm{\Gamma }(G/P;𝔇iff_{G/P}^{ch})`$ is empty. The classification of cdo over homogeneous spaces is exactly reflected in the BRST world: namely the square of the corresponding BRST charge is zero at all levels for $`G/N`$, only at the critical level for $`G/B`$ and is never zero for $`G/P`$.

This introduction would not be complete without mentioning that this note relies heavily on the ideas of B.Feigin and E.Frenkel. This note started from our attempts to find a proof of 2.5 and 2.6. Our sincere gratitude goes to D.Gaitsgory who had communicated these facts to us and told us that he had known their proofs. We are also grateful to H.Esnault for a crucial remark 4.1.1.

This work was done while the authors were visiting Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques in Bures-sur-Yvette and Max-Planck-Institut für Mathematik in Bonn. We are grateful to these institutes for the hospitality.

§1. Chiral differential operators over an algebraic group

Perfect vertex algebroids over constants

The discussion below is nothing but the specification of \[GII\], §§1 - 4 to the case $`A=`$.

1.1. Let $`𝔤`$ be a Lie algebra. We shall need two complexes connected with $`𝔤`$, both concentrated in nonnegative degrees. The first one, $`C^{}(𝔤)=C^{}(𝔤;)`$, is the cochain complex of $`𝔤`$ with trivial coefficients. Thus, by definition

$`C^i(g)=(\mathrm{\Lambda }^i𝔤)^{}=`$ the space of skew symmetric polylinear maps $`f:𝔤^i`$, $`i0`$.

The differential $`d:C^{i1}(𝔤)C^i(𝔤)`$ acts as

$$df(\tau _1,\mathrm{},\tau _i)=\underset{1p<qi}{}(1)^{p+q+1}f([\tau _p,\tau _q],\tau _1,\mathrm{},\widehat{\tau }_p,\mathrm{},\widehat{\tau }_q,\mathrm{},\tau _i)$$
$`(\mathrm{1.1.1})`$
The cohomology spaces $`H^i(C^{}(𝔤))`$ will be denoted $`H^i(𝔤)`$.

The second complex, $`\stackrel{~}{C}^{}(𝔤)`$, is the shifted by $`1`$ and augmented cochain complex of $`𝔤`$ with coefficients in the coadjoint representation $`𝔤^{}`$. By definition, $`\stackrel{~}{C}^0(𝔤)=`$ and

$`\stackrel{~}{C}^i(𝔤)=Hom_k(\mathrm{\Lambda }^{i1}𝔤,𝔤^{})=`$ the space of skew symmetric polylinear maps

$`h:𝔤^{i1}𝔤^{}`$ for $`i1`$.

The differential $`d:\stackrel{~}{C}^0(𝔤)\stackrel{~}{C}^1(𝔤)`$ is zero, and $`d:\stackrel{~}{C}^i(𝔤)\stackrel{~}{C}^{i+1}(𝔤)`$ acts as

$$dh(\tau _1,\mathrm{},\tau _i)=\underset{p=1}{\overset{i}{}}(1)^p\tau _p(h(\tau _1,\mathrm{},\widehat{\tau }_p,\mathrm{},\tau _i))+$$

$$+\underset{1p<qi}{}(1)^{p+q}h([\tau _p,\tau _q],\tau _1,\mathrm{},\widehat{\tau }_p,\mathrm{},\widehat{\tau }_q,\mathrm{},\tau _i)$$
$`(\mathrm{1.1.2})`$
for $`i1`$. Define embeddings $`C^i(𝔤)\stackrel{~}{C}^i(𝔤)`$ by assigning to $`fC^i(𝔤)`$ an element $`\stackrel{~}{f}\stackrel{~}{C}^i(𝔤)`$ given by

$$\tau _1,\stackrel{~}{f}(\tau _2,\mathrm{},\tau _i)=f(\tau _1,\mathrm{},\tau _i)$$
$`(\mathrm{1.1.3})`$
We shall identify $`C^i(𝔤)`$ with its image in $`\stackrel{~}{C}^i(𝔤)`$.

One checks that the embeddings (1.1.3) are compatible with the differentials, so that one has an embedding of complexes $`C^{}(𝔤)\stackrel{~}{C}^{}(𝔤)`$.

1.2. Let us consider the groupod $`𝒜lg_𝔤`$ of vertex algebroids of the form

$`𝒜=(,𝔤,𝔤^{},,\gamma ,,,c)`$ where $`𝒯=(,T,\mathrm{\Omega },)=(,𝔤,𝔤^{},0)`$ is a perfect extended Lie algebroid over $``$, in the sense of \[GII\], 1.2, with $`T=𝔤`$. Note that the last object is uniquely defined by the Lie algebra $`𝔤=T`$; we must have $`\mathrm{\Omega }=𝔤^{}`$, the ”Lie derivative” action of $`T`$ on $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ must be the coadjoint one, and a $``$-linear derivation $`:\mathrm{\Omega }`$ must be zero.

Turning to the axioms of a vertex algebroid, op. cit., 1.4, we see that for $`𝒜`$ as above, $`,:𝔤\times 𝔤`$ is a symmetric bilinear map (which may be regarded as an element of $`\stackrel{~}{C}^2(𝔤)`$), $`c\stackrel{~}{C}^3(𝔤)`$, (A1) implies that $`\gamma =0`$, (A2) and (A3) hold true automatically, (A4) takes the form

$$[\tau _1,\tau _2],\tau _3+\tau _2,[\tau _1,\tau _3]=\tau _2,c(\tau _1,\tau _3)+\tau _3,c(\tau _1,\tau _2)$$
$`(\mathrm{1.2.1})`$
and (A5) takes the form

$$dc=0$$
$`(\mathrm{1.2.2})`$
where $`d`$ is the differential in $`\stackrel{~}{C}^{}(𝔤)`$ given by (1.1.2).

So, an object of $`𝒜lg_𝔤`$ has a form

$$𝒜_{𝔤;,c}=(,𝔤,𝔤^{},0,0,,,c)$$
$`(\mathrm{1.2.3})`$
where $`,\stackrel{~}{C}^2(𝔤)^{/2},c\stackrel{~}{C}^3(𝔤)`$ satisfy (1.2.1) and (1.2.2).

The vertex envelope

$$𝒱_{𝔤;,,c}=U𝒜_{𝔤;,,c}$$
$`(\mathrm{1.2.4})`$
(see \[GII\], §9) is generated by the fields $`\tau (z)(\tau 𝔤)`$ and $`\omega (z)(\omega 𝔤^{})`$ of conformal weight $`1`$, subject to OPE

$$\tau (z)\tau ^{}(w)\frac{\tau ,\tau ^{}}{(zw)^2}+\frac{[\tau ,\tau ^{}](w)c(\tau ,\tau ^{})(w)}{zw}$$
$`(\mathrm{1.2.5})`$
$$\tau (z)\omega (w)\frac{\tau (\omega )(w)}{zw};\omega (z)\omega ^{}(w)0$$
$`(\mathrm{1.2.6})`$
cf. \[GII\] (9.9.1)— (9.9.3).

A morphism

$$f:𝒜_{𝔤,,,c}𝒜_{𝔤,,^{},c^{}}$$

is by definition an element $`h\stackrel{~}{C}^2(𝔤)`$ such that

$$\tau _1,h(\tau _2)+\tau _2,h(\tau _1)=\tau _1,\tau _2\tau _1,\tau _2^{}$$
$`(\mathrm{1.2.7})`$
and

$$dh=cc^{}$$
$`(\mathrm{1.2.8})`$
see \[GII\], Theorem 3.5. The composition of morphisms is induced by the addition in $`\stackrel{~}{C}^2(𝔤)`$.

1.3. As a corollary, we have a canonical bijection

$$\pi _0(𝒜lg_𝔤)=H^3(𝔤)$$
$`(\mathrm{1.3.1})`$
More precisely, for a $`3`$-cocycle $`cC^{3,cl}(𝔤)`$ we have a vertex algebroid

$$𝒜_{𝔤;c}:=𝒜_{𝔤;0,c}$$
$`(\mathrm{1.3.2})`$
and the correspondence $`c𝒜_{𝔤;c}`$ induces the bijection (1.3.1).

The enveloping algebra $`𝒱_{𝔤;c}:=U𝒜_{𝔤;c}`$ is generated by the same fields as in 1.2, subject to OPE

$$\tau (z)\tau ^{}(w)\frac{[\tau ,\tau ^{}](w)c(\tau ,\tau ^{})(w)}{zw}$$
$`(\mathrm{1.3.3})`$
and (1.2.6).

Let us define another interesting class of objects of $`𝒜lg_𝔤`$. Namely, each symmetric $`ad`$-invariant bilinear form $`(,)(S^2𝔤^{})^𝔤`$ gives rise to an object

$$\stackrel{~}{𝒜}_{𝔤;(,)}:=𝒜_{𝔤;(,),0}$$
$`(\mathrm{1.3.4})`$
The enveloping algebra $`𝒱_{𝔤;c}:=U𝒜_{𝔤;c}`$ is generated by the same fields as in 1.2, subject to OPE

$$\tau (z)\tau ^{}(w)\frac{(\tau ,\tau ^{})}{(zw)^2}+\frac{[\tau ,\tau ^{}](w)}{zw}$$
$`(\mathrm{1.3.5})`$
and (1.2.6).

It is easy to see that we have an isomorphism

$$f_{(,)}:\stackrel{~}{𝒜}_{𝔤;(,)}\stackrel{}{}𝒜_{𝔤;c_{(,)}}$$
$`(\mathrm{1.3.6})`$
given by a map $`h_{(,)}:𝔤𝔤^{}`$ where

$$\tau _1,h_{(,)}(\tau _2)=\frac{1}{2}(\tau _1,\tau _2)$$
$`(\mathrm{1.3.7})`$
and the cocycle $`c_{(,)}`$ is defined by

$$c_{(,)}(\tau _1,\tau _2,\tau _3)=([\tau _1,\tau _2],\tau _3)$$
$`(\mathrm{1.3.8})`$
Cf. \[GII\], Theorem 4.5.

1.4. Given $`(,)(S^2𝔤^{})^𝔤`$, consider a vertex algebroid

$$𝒜_{𝔤;(,)}:=(,𝔤,𝔤^{},0,0,(,),0)$$
$`(\mathrm{1.4.1})`$
Its vertex envelope $`𝒱_{𝔤;(,)}:=U𝒜_{𝔤;(,)}`$ is generated by fields $`\tau (z)(\tau 𝔤)`$ of conformal weight $`1`$, subject to OPE (1.3.5).

The correspondence $`\tau T^n\tau _{(n)}`$ defines on $`𝒱_{𝔤;(,)}`$ a structure of the vacuum module over the Kac-Moody algebra $`\widehat{𝔤}=𝔤[T,T^1]\text{1}`$ at level $`(,)`$.

We have an obvious embedding of vertex algebroids $`𝒜_{𝔤;(,)}𝒜_{𝔤;0}`$ which induces an embedding of vertex algebras

$$𝒱_{𝔤;(,)}\stackrel{~}{𝒱}_{𝔤;(,)}$$
$`(\mathrm{1.4.2})`$
1.5. If the Lie algebra $`𝔤`$ is semisimple then the correspondence $`(,)c_{(,)}`$ induces a bijection

$$(S^2𝔤^{})^𝔤\stackrel{}{}H^3(𝔤)$$
$`(\mathrm{1.5.1})`$
Therefore, in this case the algebroids $`\stackrel{~}{𝒜}_{𝔤;(,)}`$ form a complete set of representatives of isomorphism classes in $`𝒜lg_𝔤`$. In other words,

1.5.1. if $`𝔤`$ is semisimple then the correspondence $`(,)\stackrel{~}{𝒜}_{𝔤;(,)}`$ induces a bijection

$$(S^2𝔤^{})^𝔤\stackrel{}{}\pi _0(𝒜lg_𝔤)$$
$`(\mathrm{1.5.1.1})`$
Passing to a group

1.6. Let $`G=Spec(A)`$ be an affine algebraic group, $`𝔤`$ the corresponding Lie algebra . The tangent bundle $`\mathrm{\Theta }_G`$ is trivial, so the obstruction $`c(𝔇iff_G^{ch})`$ to the existence of an algebra of chiral do over $`G`$, $`𝒟_G^{ch}\mathrm{\Gamma }(G;𝔇iff_G^{ch})`$ (cf. \[GII\], Corollary 7.11) vanishes.

By op. cit., §4, the set of isomorphism classes of chiral do over $`G`$, $`\pi _0(\mathrm{\Gamma }(G;𝔇iff_G^{ch}))`$ is a nonempty torseur under the ”Chern-Simons group” $`H_{DR}^3(G)=H^3(G;)`$.

In fact the groupoid $`\mathrm{\Gamma }(G;𝔇iff_G^{ch})`$ has a distinguished object $`𝒟_{G;0}^{ch}`$, so that we have a canonical bijection

$$\pi _0(\mathrm{\Gamma }(G;𝔇iff_G^{ch}))\stackrel{}{}H_{DR}^3(G)$$
$`(\mathrm{1.6.1})`$
This is a consequence of the following general construction.

1.7. Let $`𝒜_{𝔤;,,c}`$ be an arbitrary object of $`𝒜lg_𝔤`$. Let us apply to it the pushout construction of \[GII\], 1.10 with respect to the structre morphism $`A`$. Here the morphism $`𝔤T:=Der_{}(A)`$ is defined as the embedding of left invariant vector fields, and the map $`\gamma :A\times 𝔤\mathrm{\Omega }:=\mathrm{\Omega }^1(A)`$ is set to be zero. This way we get a vertex $`A`$-algebroid $`𝒜_{G;,,c}`$. Its enveloping algebra

$$𝒟_{G;,,c}^{ch}=U𝒜_{G;,,c}$$
$`(\mathrm{1.7.1})`$
obviously belongs to $`\mathrm{\Gamma }(G;𝔇iff_G^{ch})`$.

We have a canonical embedding

$$𝒱_{𝔤,,,c}𝒟_{G;,,c}^{ch}$$
$`(\mathrm{1.7.2})`$
We shall use the notations $`𝒜_{G;(,)}:=𝒜_{G;(,),0},𝒜_{G;c}:=𝒜_{G;0,c},𝒜_{G;0}:=𝒜_{G;0,0}`$ and $`𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}`$, etc. for the corresponding enveloping algebras.

If $`𝒜_{G;0}=(A,T,\mathrm{\Omega },d_{DR},\gamma _0,,_0,c_0)`$ and $`\omega \mathrm{\Omega }^{3,cl}(A)`$ is a closed $`3`$-form then we can form a vertex algebroid

$$𝒜_{G;\omega }:=𝒜_{G;0}\stackrel{}{+}\omega =(A,T,\mathrm{\Omega },d_{DR},\gamma _0,,_0,c_0+\omega )$$
$`(\mathrm{1.7.3})`$
The correspondence $`\omega 𝒜_{G;\omega }`$ induces the bijection (1.6.1).

If $`cC^{3,cl}(𝔤)`$ is a $`3`$-cocycle with trivial coefficients then by definition

$$𝒜_{G;c}=𝒜_{G;\omega _c}$$
$`(\mathrm{1.7.4})`$
where $`\omega _c\mathrm{\Omega }^{3,cl}(A)`$ is the left invariant $`3`$-form on $`G`$ corresponding to $`c`$.

1.8. Corollary. Assume that $`G`$ is reductive. Then the correspondence $`c𝒜_{G;c}`$ induces a bijection

$$H^3(𝔤)\stackrel{}{}\pi _0(\mathrm{\Gamma }(G;𝔇iff_G^{ch}))$$
$`(\mathrm{1.8.1})`$
Indeed, one knows that for a reductive group the correspondence $`c\omega _c`$ gives rise to an isomorphism $`H^3(𝔤)\stackrel{}{}H_{DR}^3(G)`$.

1.9. Corollary. Assume that $`G`$ is semisimple. Then the correspondence $`(,)𝒜_{G;(,)}`$ induces a bijection

$$(S^2𝔤^{})^𝔤\stackrel{}{}\pi _0(\mathrm{\Gamma }(G;𝔇iff_G^{ch}))$$
$`(\mathrm{1.9.1})`$
This follows from 1.8 and the remarks 1.5.

1.10. Note that for an arbitrary $`G`$ and $`(,)(S^2𝔤^{})^𝔤`$ one has a canonical embedding

$$i_{(,)}:𝒱_{𝔤;(,)}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}$$
$`(\mathrm{1.10.1})`$
It is the composition of (1.4.2) and (1.7.2).

§2. Dual embedding

2.1. Let $`G=Spec(A)`$ be a smooth affine connected algebraic group with the Lie algebra $`𝔤`$. Pick a symmetric ad-invariant bilinear form (”level”) $`(,)(S^2𝔤^{})^𝔤`$.

Let $`(,)_{(K)}`$ denote the Killing form on $`𝔤`$,

$$(x,y)_{(K)}=tr_𝔤(ad_xad_y)$$
$`(\mathrm{2.1.1})`$
Let us pick a base $`\{\tau _i\}`$ of $`𝔤`$. In terms of structure constants

$$[\tau _i,\tau _j]=c_p^{ij}\tau _p$$
$`(\mathrm{2.1.2})`$
the form (2.1.1) is given by

$$(\tau _i,\tau _j)_{(K)}=c_q^{ip}c_p^{jq}$$
$`(\mathrm{2.1.3})`$
Let us define the dual level $`(,)^o(S^2𝔤^{})^𝔤`$ by

$$(,)^o=(,)_{(K)}(,)$$
$`(\mathrm{2.1.4})`$
Define the critical level $`(,)_{crit}`$ by $`(,)_{crit}=(,)_{crit}^o`$, i.e.

$$(,)_{crit}=\frac{1}{2}(,)_{(K)}$$
$`(\mathrm{2.1.5})`$
If we want to stress the dependence on $`𝔤`$, we shall write $`(,)_{𝔤;(K)},(,)_{𝔤;crit}`$.

2.2. We have two commuting left actions of $`G`$ on itself: the left multiplication, $`(g,x)gx`$ and the right one, $`(g,x)xg^1`$.

Let $`T=Der_k(A)`$ denote the Lie $`A`$-algebroid of vector fields over $`G`$. The above two actions induce two embeddings of Lie algebras

$$i_L:𝔤T,i_R:𝔤T$$
$`(\mathrm{2.2.1})`$
such that

$$[i_L(x),i_R(y)]=0,\text{for all }x,y𝔤$$
$`(\mathrm{2.2.2})`$
Below we shall identify $`𝔤`$ with its image under $`i_L`$, i.e. write simply $`x`$ instead of $`i_L(x)`$. We shall also use the notation $`x^R:=i_R(x)(x𝔤)`$.

Embedding $`i_L`$ induces an isomorphism of left $`A`$-modules

$$A_k𝔤\stackrel{}{}T$$
$`(\mathrm{2.2.3})`$
Thus, $`\{\tau _i\}`$ form an $`A`$-base of $`T`$. In particular

$$\tau _i^R=a^{ij}\tau _j$$
$`(\mathrm{2.2.4})`$
for some invertible matrix $`(a^{ij})`$ over $`A`$.

The commutation relations

$$[\tau _i,\tau _j^R]=0$$
$`(\mathrm{2.2.5})`$
are equivalent to the identities

$$\tau _i(a^{js})+c_s^{ip}a^{jp}=0$$
$`(\mathrm{2.2.6})`$
true for all $`i,j,s`$.

Let us write down the relations

$$[\tau _i^R,\tau _j^R]=[\tau _i,\tau _j]^R$$
$`(\mathrm{2.2.7})`$
in coordinates. We have

$$[\tau _i^R,\tau _j^R]=[\tau _i^R,a^{js}\tau _s]=\tau _i^R(a^{js})\tau _s=a^{ip}\tau _p(a^{js})\tau _s$$
$`(\mathrm{2.2.8})`$
due to (2.2.5). Plugging this into (2.2.7) we get

$$a^{ip}\tau _p(a^{js})=c_q^{ij}a^{qs}$$
$`(\mathrm{2.2.9})`$
for all $`i,j,s`$.

2.3. We set $`\mathrm{\Omega }:=\mathrm{\Omega }_{A/k}^1=Hom_A(T,A)`$, and denote by $`,:T\times \mathrm{\Omega }A`$ the canonical $`A`$-bilinear pairing. Let $`\{\omega _i\}`$ be the $`A`$-base of $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ dual to $`\{\tau _i\}`$. The Lie algebra $`T`$ acts on $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ by the Lie derivative.

We have $`\tau _i(\omega _j)=\alpha ^{ijs}\omega _s`$ where

$$\alpha ^{ijs}=\tau _s,\tau _i(\omega _j)=\tau _i(\tau _s,\omega _j)[\tau _i,\tau _s],\omega _j=c_j^{is}=c_j^{si}$$

Thus,

$$\tau _i(\omega _j)=c_j^{si}\omega _s$$
$`(\mathrm{2.3.1})`$
Similarly,

$$\tau _i^R(\omega _j)=0$$
$`(\mathrm{2.3.2})`$
2.4. Recall that we have an embedding of vertex algebras

$$i_{(,)}:𝒱_{𝔤;(,)}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}$$
$`(\mathrm{2.4.1})`$
see 1.10. More precisely, it is induced by an embedding of conformal weight $`1`$ components

$$j_L:𝔤=𝒱_{𝔤,(,)1}𝒟_{G;(,)1}^{ch}=T\mathrm{\Omega }$$
$`(\mathrm{2.4.2})`$
defined by a composition

$$𝔤TT\mathrm{\Omega }$$

where the first arrow is $`i_L`$ and the second one sends $`x`$ to $`(x,0)`$.

The fact that $`j_L`$ induces a map of vertex algebras (2.4.1) simply means that we have the identities in $`𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}`$

$$j_L(\tau )_{(1)}j_L(\tau ^{})=(\tau ,\tau ^{});j_L(\tau )_{(0)}j_L(\tau ^{})=j_L([\tau ,\tau ^{}])$$
$`(\mathrm{2.4.3})`$
for all $`\tau ,\tau ^{}𝔤`$.

2.5. Theorem. (B.Feigin - E.Frenkel, D.Gaitsgory) (i) There exists a unique embedding

$$j_R:𝔤𝒟_{G;(,)1}^{ch}$$
$`(\mathrm{2.5.1})`$
such that

(a) the composition of (2.5.1) with the canonical projection $`𝒟_{G;(,)1}^{ch}T`$ is equal to $`i_R`$;

(b) for all $`\tau ,\tau ^{}𝔤`$ and $`n0`$

$$j_L(\tau )_{(n)}j_R(\tau ^{})=0$$
$`(\mathrm{2.5.2})`$
(ii) We have

$$j_R(\tau )_{(1)}j_R(\tau ^{})=(\tau ,\tau ^{})^o$$
$`(\mathrm{2.5.3})`$
and

$$j_R(\tau )_{(0)}j_R(\tau ^{})=j_R([\tau ,\tau ^{}])$$
$`(\mathrm{2.5.4})`$
for each $`\tau ,\tau ^{}𝔤`$.

2.6. Corollary. (B.Feigin - E.Frenkel, D.Gaitsgory) The map (2.5.1) induces an embedding of chiral algebras

$$j_R:𝒱_{𝔤;(,)^o}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}$$
$`(\mathrm{2.6.1})`$
The images of $`j_L`$ and $`j_R`$ commute in the following sense:

$$j_L(x)_{(n)}j_R(y)=0$$
$`(\mathrm{2.6.2})`$
for each $`x𝒱_{𝔤;(,)},y𝒱_{𝔤;(,)^o}`$ and $`n0`$.

2.7. Proof of (2.5). (i) As usual, we denote $`j_L(\tau )`$ simply by $`\tau `$. We are looking for $`j_R(\tau )`$ in the form

$$j_R(\tau _i)=\tau _i^R+b^{iq}\omega _q$$
$`(\mathrm{2.7.1})`$
for some $`b^{iq}A`$. We have, by \[GII\], 1.4 (A2)

$$\tau _{i(1)}^R\tau _j=\tau _i^R,\tau _j=a^{ip}\tau _p,\tau _j=a^{ip}(\tau _p,\tau _j)\tau _p\tau _j(a^{ip})$$

Using (2.2.6) and (2.1.4),

$$\tau _p\tau _j(a^{ip})=\tau _p(c_p^{js}a^{is})=c_p^{pu}c_p^{js}a^{iu}=c_s^{up}c_p^{js}a^{iu}=(\tau _u,\tau _j)_{(K)}a^{iu},$$

so

$$\tau _{i(1)}^R\tau _j=(\tau _p,\tau _j)^oa^{ip}$$
$`(\mathrm{2.7.2})`$
On the other hand,

$$(b^{iq}\omega _q)_{(1)}\tau _j=b^{iq}\omega _q,\tau _j=b^{ij}$$

Therefore the condition

$$j_R(\tau _i)_{(1)}\tau _j=0$$
$`(\mathrm{2.7.3})`$
defines the matrix $`(b^{iq})`$ uniquely: we must have

$$j_R(\tau _i)=\tau _i^R+(\tau _p,\tau _q)^oa^{ip}\omega _q$$
$`(\mathrm{2.7.4})`$
2.8. Let us prove that

$$\tau _{i(0)}j_R(\tau _j)=0$$
$`(\mathrm{2.8.1})`$
We have

$$\tau _{i(0)}j_R(\tau _j)=\tau _{i(0)}\{\tau _j^R+(\tau _s,\tau _u)^oa^{js}\omega _u\}$$

On the one hand,

$$\tau _{i(0)}\tau _j^R=\tau _{i(0)}(a^{jq}\tau _q)=\tau _{i(0)}(a_{(1)}^{jq}\tau _q)=\tau _i(a^{jq})_{(1)}\tau _q+a_{(1)}^{jq}[\tau _i,\tau _q]=0$$

using (2.2.6). On the other hand,

$$\tau _{i(0)}\left\{(\tau _s,\tau _u)^oa^{js}\omega _u\right\}=(\tau _s,\tau _u)^o\tau _i(a^{js}\omega _u)=(\tau _s,\tau _u)^o\left\{\tau _i(a^{js})\omega _u+a^{js}\tau _i(\omega _u)\right\}=$$

using (2.2.6) and (2.3.1)

$$=(\tau _s,\tau _p)^oc_s^{iq}a^{jq}\omega _p(\tau _s,\tau _u)^oc_u^{ip}a^{js}\omega _p=([\tau _i,\tau _q],\tau _p)^oa^{jq}\omega _p(\tau _s,[\tau _i,\tau _p])^oa^{js}\omega _p=0$$

due to the invariance of the form $`(,)^o`$. This proves (2.8.1).

Evidently $`\tau _{i(n)}j_R(\tau _j)=0`$ for $`n2`$. This proves part (i) of the theorem.

2.9. Let us compute $`j_R(\tau _i)_{(1)}j_R(\tau _j)`$. We have

$$j_R(\tau _i)_{(1)}j_R(\tau _j)=\left\{\tau _i^R+(\tau _p,\tau _q)^oa^{ip}\omega _q\right\}_{(1)}\left\{\tau _j^R+(\tau _s,\tau _u)^oa^{js}\omega _u\right\}$$

This is a sum of four terms.

$$I:=\tau _{i(1)}^R\tau _j^R=a^{ip}\tau _p,a^{js}\tau _s=$$

using \[GII\] (1.8.3)<sub>⟨,⟩</sub>

$$=a^{ip}a^{js}(\tau _p,\tau _s)a^{ip}\tau _s\tau _p(a^{js})a^{js}\tau _p\tau _s(a^{ip})\tau _p(a^{js})\tau _s(a^{ip})$$

Using (2.2.6) and (2.1.4) we see that

$$a^{ip}\tau _s\tau _p(a^{js})=a^{js}\tau _p\tau _s(a^{ip})=\tau _p(a^{js})\tau _s(a^{ip})=(\tau _p,\tau _s)_{(K)}a^{ip}a^{js},$$

whence

$$I=(\tau _p,\tau _s)^oa^{ip}a^{js}$$

Next,

$$II:=\left\{(\tau _p,\tau _q)^oa^{ip}\omega _q\right\}_{(1)}\tau _j^R=(\tau _p,\tau _q)^oa^{ip}\omega _q,a^{js}\tau _s=(\tau _p,\tau _q)^oa^{ip}a^{jq}$$

Similarly,

$$III:=\tau _{i(1)}^R\left\{(\tau _s,\tau _u)^oa^{js}\omega _u\right\}=II$$

and evidently

$$IV:=\left\{(\tau _p,\tau _q)^oa^{ip}\omega _q\right\}_{(1)}\left\{(\tau _s,\tau _u)^oa^{js}\omega _u\right\}=0$$

Adding up we get

$$j_R(\tau _i)_{(1)}j_R(\tau _j)=(\tau _p,\tau _q)^oa^{ip}a^{jq}$$
$`(\mathrm{2.9.1})`$
Let us differentiate this expression. We have

$$\tau _s\{(\tau _p,\tau _q)^oa^{ip}a^{jq}\}=(\tau _p,\tau _q)^o\left\{\tau _s(a^{ip})a^{jq}+a^{ip}\tau _s(a^{jq})\right\}=$$

$$=(\tau _p,\tau _q)^o\left\{c_p^{su}a^{iu}a^{jq}c^{sv_q}a^{ip}a^{jv}\right\}=([\tau _s,\tau _u],\tau _q)^oa^{iu}a^{jq}(\tau _p,[\tau _s,\tau _v])^oa^{ip}a^{jv}=0$$

Therefore, (2.9.1) is a constant. It may be computed by noticing that the matrix $`(a^{ij})`$, considered as a function on the group $`G`$, is equal to the identity at the identity of the group. Hence (2.9.1) is equal to $`(\tau _i,\tau _j)^o`$, which proves (2.5.3).

2.10. Let us compute

$$j_R(\tau _i)_{(0)}j_R(\tau _j)𝒟_{G;(,)1}^{ch}=T\mathrm{\Omega }$$

We have

$$j_R(\tau _i)_{(0)}j_R(\tau _j)=j_R(\tau _i)_{(0)}\left\{a^{jq}\tau _q+(\tau _s,\tau _u)^oa^{js}\omega _u\right\}$$
$`(\mathrm{2.10.1})`$
Let us compute the first summand. Using (2.8.1), we have

$$j_R(\tau _i)_{(0)}(a^{jq}\tau _q)=(j_R(\tau _i)_{(0)}a^{jq})\tau _q=a^{ip}\tau _p(a^{jq})\tau _q=[\tau _i^R,\tau _j^R]=[\tau _i,\tau _j]^R$$
$`(9.2)`$
by (2.8) and (2.7).

On the other hand

$$j_R(\tau _i)_{(0)}\left\{(\tau _s,\tau _u)^oa^{js}\omega _u\right\}=\tau _{i(0)}^R\left\{(\tau _s,\tau _u)^oa^{js}\omega _u\right\}=(\tau _s,\tau _u)^o\tau _i^R(a^{js}\omega _u)=$$

by (2.3.2) and (2.2.9)

$$=(\tau _s,\tau _u)^oa^{ip}\tau _p(a^{js})\omega _u=(\tau _s,\tau _u)^oc_q^{ij}a^{qs}\omega _u$$
$`(\mathrm{2.10.3})`$
Adding up (2.10.2) and (2.10.3) we see that

$$j_R(\tau _i)_{(0)}j_R(\tau _j)=j_R([\tau _i,\tau _j])$$

which proves (2.5.4) and part (ii) of the theorem. $``$

11. Proof of (2.6). The first claim is a reformulation of (2.5.3) and (2.5.4).

The second claim is a trivial consequence of (2.5.2) and two Borcherds’ formulas

$$x_{(n)}y_{(1)}z=y_{(1)}x_{(n)}z+\underset{j=0}{\overset{n}{}}\left(\genfrac{}{}{0pt}{}{n}{j}\right)(x_{(j)}y)_{(n1j)}z$$

($`n0`$), cf. \[GII\] (0.5.12), and

$$(x_{(1)}y)_{(n)}z=\underset{j0}{}\left\{x_{(1j)}y_{(n+j)}z+y_{(n1j)}x_{(j)}z\right\}$$

cf. \[GII\] (0.5.4). $``$

§3. BRST

3.1. Recall the definition of the BRST reduction due to Feigin. See \[F\]; the definition in the language of vertex algebras was given in \[FF4\] (cf. Section 4), cf. also \[FF3\], Appendix A; for a more modern treatment see \[BD1\], 3.7, \[BD2\], 7.13.

Let $`𝔞`$ be a finite dimensional Lie algebra. Choose a base $`\{a_i\}`$ in $`𝔞`$; denote the structure constants

$$[a_i,a_j]=c_p^{ij}a_p$$
$`(\mathrm{3.1.1})`$
Recall that the Killing form $`(,)_{(K)}:𝔞\times 𝔞`$ is given by

$$(a_i,a_j)_{(K)}=c_q^{ip}c_p^{jq}$$
$`(\mathrm{3.1.2})`$
Let $`\mathrm{\Pi }𝔞`$ be the space $`𝔞`$ with the reversed parity; denote by $`\{\varphi _i=\mathrm{\Pi }a_i\}`$ the corresponding base and by $`\{\varphi _j^{}\}`$ the dual base of $`\mathrm{\Pi }𝔞^{}`$ given by

$$\varphi _i,\varphi _j^{}=\delta _{ij}$$
$`(\mathrm{3.1.3})`$
Let $`C_{BRST}(L𝔞)`$ denote a graded vertex superalgebra generated by odd fields $`\varphi _i(z)`$ of conformal dimension $`1`$ and odd fields $`\varphi _i^{}(z)`$ of conformal dimension $`0`$ with OPE

$$\varphi _i(z)\varphi _j^{}(w)\frac{\delta _{ij}}{zw}$$
$`(\mathrm{3.1.4})`$
We shall identify the spaces $`\mathrm{\Pi }𝔞`$ and $`\mathrm{\Pi }𝔞^{}`$ with their obvious images in $`C_{BRST}(L𝔞)_1`$ and $`C_{BRST}(L𝔞)_0`$ respectively.

Let us introduce an odd element $`D_𝔞C_{BRST}(L𝔞)`$ of conformal dimension $`1`$ by

$$D_𝔞=\frac{1}{2}c_p^{ij}\varphi _p\varphi _i^{}\varphi _j^{}$$
$`(\mathrm{3.1.5})`$
Thus, we have the corresponding field $`D_𝔞(z)=D_{𝔞;n}z^{n1}`$ and we set

$$d_𝔞:=D_{𝔞;0}$$
$`(\mathrm{3.1.6})`$
The pair $`(C_{BRST}(L𝔞),d_𝔞)`$ may be regarded as a chiral analogue of the Chevalley cochain complex $`C(𝔞)`$. However, in the chiral case the square $`d_𝔞^2`$ may be nonzero. It is easy to compute it. Namely, let us write down the OPE $`D_𝔞(z)D_𝔞(w)`$ using Wick theorem. We have

$$D_𝔞(z)D_𝔞(w)\frac{(a_i,a_j)_{(K)}\varphi _i^{}(z)\varphi _j^{}(w)}{(zw)^2}$$
$`(\mathrm{3.1.7})`$
Therefore

$$d_𝔞^2=(a_i,a_j)_{(K)}\varphi _i^{}(w)^{}\varphi _j(w)$$
$`(\mathrm{3.1.8})`$
3.2. Corollary. If the Lie algebra $`𝔞`$ is nilpotent then $`d_𝔞^2=0`$.

Indeed, the Killing form of a nilpotent Lie algebra is zero.

3.3. Let $`(,):𝔞\times 𝔞`$ be an arbitrary symmetric invariant bilinear form (”level”). Recall that the vertex algebra $`𝒱_{𝔞;(,)}`$ is generated by even fields $`a_i(z)`$ of conformal weight $`1`$, subject to OPE

$$a_i(z)a_j(w)\frac{(a_i,a_j)}{(zw)^2}+\frac{[a_i,a_j](w)}{zw}$$
$`(\mathrm{3.3.1})`$
3.4. Lemma. The rule

$$a_ic_q^{ip}\varphi _q\varphi _p^{}$$
$`(\mathrm{3.4.1})`$
defines an embedding of vertex algebras

$$𝒱_{𝔞;(,)_{𝔞;(K)}}C_{BRST}(L𝔞)$$
$`(\mathrm{3.4.2})`$
3.5. Let $``$ be a vertex module over $`𝒱_{𝔞;(,)_{𝔞;(K)}}`$. Let us introduce a space

$$C_{BRST}(L𝔞;):=C_{BRST}(L𝔞)$$
$`(\mathrm{3.5.1})`$
According to the previous lemma this space is canonically a graded (by conformal weight) $`𝒱_{𝔞;0}`$-supermodule. This space is also graded by ”fermionic charge”

$$C_{BRST}(L𝔞;)=_pC_{BRST}^p(L𝔞;)$$
$`(\mathrm{3.5.2})`$
where we assign to $`\varphi _i`$ (resp. $`\varphi _i^{},m`$) the charge $`1`$ (resp., $`1,0`$).

Introduce an odd element $`D_{𝔞;}C_{BRST}(L𝔞;)`$ of conformal weight $`1`$ and fermionic charge $`1`$ by

$$D_{𝔞;}=\varphi _i^{}a_i+D_𝔞1$$
$`(\mathrm{3.5.3})`$
It follows from (3.1.7) that

$$D_{𝔞;}(z)D_{𝔞;}(w)0$$
$`(\mathrm{3.5.4})`$
Therefore, setting

$$d_{𝔞;}:=D_{𝔞;}(z)$$
$`(\mathrm{3.5.5})`$
we get a differential

$$d_{𝔞;}^2=0$$
$`(\mathrm{3.5.6})`$
By definition $`d`$ increases the fermionic charge by $`1`$.

The pair $`(C_{BRST}(L𝔞;),d_{𝔞;})`$ is called the BRST complex of $`L𝔞`$ with coefficients in $``$, and its cohomology $`H_{BRST}^{}(L𝔞;)`$ is called the BRST cohomology.

3.6. Example. Let $`N`$ be a unipotent algebraic group with the Lie algebra $`𝔫`$. Consider a $`𝒱_{𝔫;0}`$-module $`𝒟_{N;0}^{ch}`$ (note that according to 1.6 this algebra represents a unique isomorphism class of cdo’s over $`N`$). Inside the loop algebra $`L𝔫=𝔫[T,T^1]`$ consider two Lie subalgebras: $`𝔫_{}`$ and $`𝔫_+`$, generated by all elements $`\tau T^n(\tau 𝔫)`$ with $`n<0`$ and $`n0`$ respectively. Then $`𝒟_{N;0}^{ch}`$ is a free $`𝔫_{}`$-module and a cofree (i.e. the dual module is free) $`𝔫_+`$-module.

It follows that

$$H_{BRST}^i(L𝔫;𝒟_{N;0}^{ch})=0(i0);H_{BRST}^0(L𝔫;𝒟_{N;0}^{ch})=$$
$`(\mathrm{3.6.1})`$
cf. \[FF3\], p. 178.

§4. Homogeneous spaces

4.1. Let $`X`$ be a smooth variety. We have an exact triangle

$$\mathrm{\Omega }_X^{[2,3}\mathrm{\Omega }_X^{[2}C$$
$`(\mathrm{4.1.1})`$
where

$$\mathrm{\Omega }_X^{[2}:0\mathrm{\Omega }_X^2\mathrm{\Omega }_X^3\mathrm{}$$
$`(\mathrm{4.1.2})`$
($`\mathrm{\Omega }_X^2`$ sitting in degree $`0`$) and

$$C:0\mathrm{\Omega }_X^4/d\mathrm{\Omega }_X^3\mathrm{\Omega }_X^5\mathrm{}$$
$`(\mathrm{4.1.3})`$
($`\mathrm{\Omega }_X^4/d\mathrm{\Omega }_X^3`$ sitting in degree $`2`$). It follows that

4.1.1.<sup>1</sup><sup>1</sup>1this remark is due to H.Esnault the canonical map

$$H^i(X;\mathrm{\Omega }_X^{[2,3})H^i(X,\mathrm{\Omega }_X^{[2})$$
$`(\mathrm{4.1.4})`$
is injective for $`i=2`$ and bijective for $`i=0,1`$.

4.2. Let $`G`$ be a simple algebraic group. In this section we shall discuss the chiral differential operators on homogeneous spaces $`G/G^{}`$ where $`G^{}=N`$ — a unipotent subgroup, $`G^{}=P`$ — a parabolic but not minimal parabolic, or $`G^{}=B`$ — a Borel subgroup.

The case $`G/N`$

4.3. Consider the projection $`\pi :GX:=G/N`$. The variety $`X`$ is quasiaffine, therefore we have

$$H^i(X;\mathrm{\Omega }_X^{[2})=H^i\mathrm{\Gamma }(X;\mathrm{\Omega }_X^{[2})=H_{DR}^{i+2}(X)(i1)$$
$`(\mathrm{4.3.1})`$
On the other hand,

$$H_{DR}^{}(X)=H^{}(X;)$$
$`(\mathrm{4.3.2})`$
by Grothendieck’s theorem, (cf. \[Gr\], Theorem 1’).

The projection $`\pi `$ is an affine morphism which is a Zariski locally trivial bundle with fiber $`N`$ isomorphic to an affine space, so $`\pi ^{}:H^{}(X;)\stackrel{}{}H^{}(G;)`$. It follows that

$$\pi ^{}:H^i(X;\mathrm{\Omega }_X^{[2})\stackrel{}{}H^i(G;\mathrm{\Omega }_G^{[2})(i1)$$
$`(\mathrm{4.3.3})`$
We have a short exact sequence

$$0\mathrm{\Theta }_{G/X}\mathrm{\Theta }_G\pi ^{}\mathrm{\Theta }_X0$$
$`(\mathrm{4.3.4})`$
and the vector bundles $`\mathrm{\Theta }_G,\mathrm{\Theta }_{G/X}`$ are trivial (a base of global sections of $`\mathrm{\Theta }_{G/X}`$ is given by left invariant vector fields coming from the Lie algebra $`𝔫:=Lie(N)`$).

Therefore we have

$$\pi ^{}c(𝔇iff_X^{ch})=\pi ^{}ch_2(\mathrm{\Theta }_X)=ch_2(\mathrm{\Theta }_G)=0$$
$`(\mathrm{4.3.5})`$
hence

$$c(𝔇iff_X^{ch})=0$$
$`(\mathrm{4.3.6})`$
by 4.1.1.

Therefore,

4.4. the groupoid $`\mathrm{\Gamma }(X;𝔇iff_X^{ch})`$ is nonempty. The set of isomorphism classes $`\pi _0(\mathrm{\Gamma }(X,𝔇iff_X^{ch}))`$ is a torseur under $`H_{DR}^3(X)=H_{DR}^3(G)`$.

4.5. Let $`𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}`$ be the sheaf of chiral differential operators on $`G`$ of level $`(,)`$ where

$$(,):𝔤\times 𝔤$$
$`(\mathrm{4.5.1})`$
is a fixed symmetric invariant bilinear form on $`𝔤=Lie(G)`$, cf. 1.7. The form (4.5.1) is a scalar multiple of the Killing form

$$(,)=c(,)_{𝔤;(K)},c$$
$`(\mathrm{4.5.2})`$
The Killing form on $`𝔤`$ restricts to zero on $`𝔫`$ (since the trace of a nilpotent endomorphism is zero). Therefore we have the canonical embedding of vertex algebras

$$𝒱_{𝔫;0}𝒱_{G;(,)}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}$$
$`(\mathrm{4.5.3})`$
so that the sheaf $`𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}`$ becomes a sheaf of $`𝒱_{𝔫;0}`$-modules.

Applying the BRST construction 3.5 to $`=\pi _{}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}`$ and $`𝔞=𝔫`$ we get a sheaf of BRST complexes $`C_{BRST}(L𝔫;\pi _{}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch})`$ and BRST cohomology sheaves $`H_{BRST}^{}(L𝔫;\pi _{}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch})`$ over $`X`$. They are sheaves of $`_0`$-graded vertex superalgebras.

4.6. Theorem. We have

$$H_{BRST}^i(L𝔫;\pi _{}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch})=0(i0)$$
$`(\mathrm{4.6.1})`$
The sheaf $`H_{BRST}^0(L𝔫;\pi _{}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch})`$ is an algebra of chiral differential operators over $`X`$.

The correspondence

$$𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}H_{BRST}^0(L𝔫;\pi _{}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch})$$
$`(\mathrm{4.6.2})`$
induces a bijection of the sets of isomorphism classes

$$\pi _0(\mathrm{\Gamma }(G;𝔇iff_G^{ch}))\stackrel{}{}\pi _0(\mathrm{\Gamma }(X;𝔇iff_X^{ch}))$$
$`(\mathrm{4.6.3})`$
We shall use the notation $`𝒟_{X;(,)}^{ch}`$ for the cdo $`H_{BRST}^0(L𝔫;\pi _{}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch})`$.

Note that higher direct images $`R^i\pi _{}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}`$ are trivial for $`i>0`$ since the morphism $`\pi `$ is affine and the sheaves $`𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}`$ admits a filtration whose qutients are coherent (in fact, locally free) $`𝒪_G`$-modules.

4.7. Proof (sketch). Locally on $`X`$ the projection $`\pi :GX`$ is isomorphic to the direct product $`U\times NU`$. If $`𝒟`$ is an algebra of chiral differential operators on $`U\times N`$ then $`𝒟\stackrel{}{}𝒟_U𝒟_N`$ where $`𝒟_U`$ (resp. $`𝒟_N`$ is an algebra of differential operators on $`U`$ (resp. $`N`$). Now the first claim of the theorem follows from (3.6.1).

The second claim is a corollary of 4.4. $``$

4.8. Corollary. The dual embedding

$$j_R:𝒱_{G;(,)^o}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}$$
$`(\mathrm{4.8.1})`$
defined in Corollary 2.6 induces a canonical morphism of vertex algebras

$$i_{(,)}^o:𝒱_{G;(,)^o}𝒟_{X;(,)}^{ch}$$
$`(\mathrm{4.8.2})`$
Indeed, we know that (4.8.1) commutes with the left action of $`\widehat{𝔤}`$ hence with the BRST differential.

In particular, the Kac-Moody algebra $`\widehat{𝔤}`$ at level $`(,)^o`$ acts canonically on Wakimoto modules which may be defined as the spaces of sections $`\mathrm{\Gamma }(U;𝒟_{X,(,)}^{ch})`$ where $`U`$ is a big cell. This is a result due to Feigin-Frenkel obtained in \[FF1\] - \[FF3\] in a different way.

The case $`G/B`$

4.9. Let $`BG`$ be a Borel subgroup, $`\pi :GX:=G/B`$. $`X`$ is a smooth projective variety and we have

$$H^p(X;\mathrm{\Omega }_X^q)=0(pq)$$
$`(\mathrm{4.9.1})`$
and

$$H^i(X;\mathrm{\Omega }_X^i)=H^{2i}(X;)$$
$`(\mathrm{4.9.2})`$
It follows that $`H^2(X;\mathrm{\Omega }^{[2})=H^4(X;)`$, and \[GII\], Theorem 7.5 says that the image of $`c(𝔇iff_X^{ch})`$ in $`H^4(X;)`$ is equal to

$$2ch_2(\mathrm{\Theta }_X):=c_1^2(\mathrm{\Theta }_X)c_2(\mathrm{\Theta }_X)$$
$`(\mathrm{4.9.3})`$
where $`c_i(\mathrm{\Theta }_X)H^{2i}(X;)`$ are the Chern classes of the tangent bundle $`\mathrm{\Theta }_X`$.

4.9.1. Lemma. We have

$$ch_2(\mathrm{\Theta }_X)=0$$
$`(\mathrm{4.9.1.1})`$
Proof. The space $`H^2(X;)`$ may be identified with the complexification of the root lattice of $`G`$. The classical theorem by J. Leray says that that the cohomology algebra $`H^{}(X;)`$ is equal to the quotient of the symmetric algebra of the space $`H^2(X;)`$ modulo the ideal generated by the subspace of invariants of the Weyl group $`W`$ having positive degree, cf. \[L\], Théoreme 2.1 b).

The class $`[\mathrm{\Theta }_X]`$ in the Grothendieck group of vector bundles is equal to the sum $`[_\alpha ]`$ where $`\alpha `$ runs through all negative roots, and $`_\alpha `$ is the line bundle with $`c_1(_\alpha )=\alpha `$. Hence $`ch_2(\mathrm{\Theta }_X)=\alpha ^2`$; this element is invariant under the action of $`W`$, therefore its image in $`H^4(X;)`$ is zero. $``$

This lemma implies that

$$c(𝔇iff_X^{ch})=0$$
$`(\mathrm{4.9.4})`$
by 4.1.1. On the other hand, it follows from 4.1.1 and (4.9.1) that

$$H^i(X;\mathrm{\Omega }_X^{[2,3})=0(i=0,1)$$
$`(\mathrm{4.9.5})`$
Thus, by \[GII\], loc. cit. we get

4.10. Theorem. The groupoid $`\mathrm{\Gamma }(X;𝔇iff_X^{ch})`$ is nonempty and trivial. In other words, there exists a unique, up to a unique isomorphism, algebra of chiral differential operators $`𝒟_X^{ch}`$ over $`X`$. $``$

4.11. Let us construct the algebra $`𝒟_X^{ch}`$ using BRST reduction. Consider the sheaf $`𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}`$ as in 4.5. Let $`(,)_𝔟`$ denote the restriction of $`(,)`$ to $`𝔟:=Lie(B)`$.

We have a canonical embedding of vertex algebras

$$𝒱_{𝔟;(,)_𝔟}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}$$
$`(\mathrm{4.11.1})`$
We have

$$(,)_{𝔤;(K)}|_{𝔟\times 𝔟}=2(,)_{𝔟;(K)}$$
$`(\mathrm{4.11.2})`$
Therefore, to get the minus Killing on $`𝔟`$ we have to start from $`(,)_{𝔤,(K)}/2`$, i.e. from the critical level on $`𝔤`$. Thus, by construction 3.5,

4.11.1. the BRST complex $`C_{BRST}(L𝔟;\pi _{}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch})`$ is defined iff $`(,)=(,)_{𝔤;crit}`$, i.e. on the critical level, cf. (2.1.5).

Let us denote the algebra $`𝒟_{G;(,)_{𝔤;crit}}^{ch}`$ by $`𝒟_{G;crit}^{ch}`$.

4.12. Let $`𝒱_{𝔟;crit}`$ denote the vacuum module on the critical level $`𝒱_{𝔟;(,)_{𝔟;crit}}`$. Let $``$ be a vertex algebra equipped with a morphism of vertex algebras $`𝒱_{𝔟;crit}`$.

We have a decomposition

$$𝔟=𝔥𝔫$$
$`(\mathrm{4.12.1})`$
where $`𝔫𝔟`$ (resp. $`𝔥𝔟`$) the maximal nilpotent (resp. the Cartan) subalgebra; $`𝔫`$ is spanned by elements $`e_\alpha `$, $`\alpha `$ being a positive root. Let us define a vertex subalgebra

$$C_{BRST}(L𝔟,𝔥;)C_{BRST}(L𝔟;)$$
$`(\mathrm{4.12.2})`$
The vector space $`C_{BRST}(L𝔟;)`$ is spanned by all the monomials

$$h_{1;i_1}\mathrm{}h_{1;j_1}^{}\mathrm{}e_{\alpha _1;k_1}\mathrm{}e_{\alpha _1^{};l_1}^{}\mathrm{}m_\mu $$
$`(\mathrm{4.12.3})`$
where the indices $`i_p,j_p,k_p,l_p`$ denote the conformal weight, $`i_p,k_p1;j_p,l_p0`$$`m_\mu `$ is a vector of weight $`\mu 𝔥^{}`$.

By definition, the subspace $`C_{BRST}(L𝔟,𝔥;)`$ is spanned by all monomials (4.12.3) such that

(a) all $`j_p1`$;

(b) $`\alpha _p\alpha _q^{}+\mu =0`$.

It is a vertex subalgebra. One checks that the BRST differential $`d`$ in $`C_{BRST}(L𝔟;)`$ preserves $`C_{BRST}(L𝔟,𝔥;)`$.

We define the relative BRST cohomology $`H_{BRST}^{}(L𝔟,𝔥;)`$ as the cohomology of $`C_{BRST}(L𝔟,𝔥;)`$ with respect to this differential. It is canonically a vertex algebra.

4.13. Applying the previous definition to $`=\pi _{}𝒟_{G;crit}^{ch}`$ we get the BRST cohomology sheaves $`H_{BRST}^{}(L𝔟,𝔥;\pi _{}𝒟_{G;crit}^{ch})`$ on $`X`$.

4.14. Theorem. We have

$$H_{BRST}^i(L𝔟,𝔥;\pi _{}𝒟_{G;crit}^{ch})=0(i0)$$
$`(\mathrm{4.14.1})`$
and the sheaf of vertex algebras $`H_{BRST}^0(L𝔟,𝔥;\pi _{}𝒟_{G;crit}^{ch})`$ is canonically isomorphic to $`𝒟_X^{ch}`$.

The proof is the same as that of Theorem 4.6.

4.15. Corollary. We have a canonical isomorphism of vertex algebras

$$H^{}(X;𝒟_X^{ch})=H_{BRST}^{}(L𝔟,𝔥;\mathrm{\Gamma }(G;𝒟_{G;crit}^{ch}))$$
$`(\mathrm{4.15.1})`$
Indeed, as we have already remarked, sheaves of cdo $`𝒟_G^{ch}`$ on $`G`$ have a filtration whose graded quotients are vector bundles; but the vatiety $`G`$ and the morphism $`\pi `$ are affine, hence $`H^i(G;𝒟_G^{ch})=R^i\pi _{}𝒟_G^{ch}=0`$ for $`i>0`$.

4.16. Corollary. The dual embedding

$$j_R:𝒱_{G;crit}𝒟_{G;crit}^{ch}$$
$`(\mathrm{4.16.1})`$
defined in Corollary 2.6 induces a canonical morphism of vertex algebras

$$i_{crit}:𝒱_{G;crit}𝒟_X^{ch}$$
$`(\mathrm{4.16.2})`$
Indeed, we know that (4.16.1) commutes with the left action of $`\widehat{𝔤}`$ hence with the BRST differential.

In particular, the Kac-Moody algebra $`\widehat{𝔤}`$ on the critical level acts canonically on Wakimoto modules which may be defined as the spaces of sections $`\mathrm{\Gamma }(U;𝒟_X^{ch})`$ where $`U`$ is a big cell. This is a result of Feigin-Frenkel proven in \[FF1\] - \[FF3\] in a different way.

The case $`G/P`$

4.17. Let $`PG`$ be a parabolic but not Borel, $`𝔭=Lie(P)`$, $`\pi :GX:=G/P`$. The discussion of 4.9 applies as it is, except for Lemma 4.9.1, which is replaced by

4.17.1. Lemma. We have

$$ch_2(\mathrm{\Theta }_X)0$$
$`(\mathrm{4.17.1.1})`$
Hence $`c(𝔇iff_X^{ch})0`$, and we get

4.18. Theorem. The groupoid $`\mathrm{\Gamma }(X;𝔇iff_X^{ch})`$ is empty. In other words, there is no cdo over $`X`$. $``$

4.19. Let us see how this fact is reflected in the BRST world. We would like to get a sheaf of cdo over $`X`$ as the BRST cohomology of $`L𝔭`$ with coefficients in some sheaf $`\pi _{}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch}`$. However, no form $`(,)`$ on $`G`$ restricts to the Killing form on $`𝔭`$, which implies that the square of the BRST differential in $`C_{BRST}(L𝔭;\pi _{}𝒟_{G;(,)}^{ch})`$ is always nonzero. Thus, the BRST cohomology is not defined, which is compatible with 4.18.

References

\[BD1\] A. Beilinson, V. Drinfeld, Chiral algebras, Preprint.

\[BD2\] A. Beilinson, V.Drinfeld, Quantization of Hitchin integrable system and Hecke eigensheaves, Preprint.

\[F\] B.L. Feigin, Semiinfinite homology of Lie, Kac-Moody and Virasoro algebras, Uspekhi Matem. Nauk, 39, no. 2(236) (1984), 195-196 (Russian).

\[FF1\] B.L. Feigin, E. Frenkel, A family of representations of affine Lie algebras, Uspekhi Matem. Nauk, 43, no. 5(263) (1988), 227-228 (Russian).

\[FF2\] B.L. Feigin, E. Frenkel, Representations of affine Kac-Moody algebras and bosonization, Physics and Mathematics of Strings, 271-316. World Sci. Publishing, Teaneck, NJ, 1990.

\[FF3\] B.L. Feigin, E. Frenkel, Affine Kac-Moody algebras and semi-infinite flag manifolds, Comm. Math. Phys., 128 (1990), 161-189.

\[FF4\] B. Feigin, E. Frenkel, Affine Kac-Moody algebras at the critical level and Gelfand-Dikii algebras, Infinite analysis, Part A, B (Kyoto, 1991), 197 - 215, Adv. Ser. Math. Phys., 16, World Sci. Publishing, River Edge, NJ, 1992.

\[GII\] V. Gorbounov, F. Malikov, V. Schechtman, Gerbes of chiral differential operators. II, math.AG/0003170.

\[Gr\] A. Grothendieck, On the de Rham cohomology of algebraic varieties, Publ. Math. IHES, 29 (1966), 95-103.

\[L\] J. Leray, Sur l’homologie des groupes de Lie, des espaces homogènes et des espaces fibrés principaux, Colloque de Topologie (Espaces Fibrés) (Bruxelles, 1950), 101-115, Georges Thone, Liège, Masson & Cie, Paris, 1951.

\[MSV\] F. Malikov, V. Schechtman, A. Vaintrob, Chiral de Rham complex, Commun. Math. Phys., 204 (1999), 439-473.

V.G.: Department of Mathematics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; vgorbms.uky.edu

F.M.: Department of Mathematics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; fmalikovmathj.usc.edu

V.S.: IHES, 35 Route de Chartres, 91440 Bures-sur-Yvette, France; vadikihes.fr