Recurrent relation for branching coefficients

of affine Lie algebras

Vladimir Lyakhovsky
Theoretical Department, SPb State University,
198904, Sankt-Petersburg, Russia
e-mail:lyakh1507@nm.ru

Anton Nazarov
Theoretical Department, SPb State University,
198904, Sankt-Petersburg, Russia
e-mail:antonnaz@gmail.com
November 9, 2009

Abstract
We present the recurrent relation for the branching coefficients of
affine Lie algebras. Then we describe the algorithm for the decomposi-
tion of integrable highest weight modules of a simple Lie algebra with
respect to its reductive subalgebra which is based upon this recurrent
relation and present some examples. Also we discuss the appearance
of branching coefficients in the physical models.

1 Introduction
The problem of the reduction of Lie algebra representation to the repre-
sentations of the subalgebra is studied for several decades and has various
applications in physics. In the context of finite-dimensional algebras it is
important for the study of great unification models whilst the problem of
the branching of the affine Lie algebras emerges in conformal field theory, for
example, in the construction of the modular-invariant partition functions [1].
There exist several approaches to the computation of the branching co-
efficients which use the BGG resolution [2] (for Kac-Moody algebras the

1
algorithm is described in [3],[4]), the Schure function series [5], the BRST
cohomology [6], Kac-Peterson formulas [3, 7] or the combinatorial methods
applied in [8].
Usually only the embedding of the maximal reductive subalgebras is con-
sidered since the case of non-maximal subalgebra can be obtained using the
chain of maximal subalgebras. In this paper we present the recurrent for-
mula for the branching coefficients which generalises the recurrent relation
of the paper [9] to the case of non-maximal reductive subalgebra. Using this
relation we formulate simple explicit algorithm for the computation of the
branching coefficients which is applicable to the non-maximal subalgebras of
finite-dimensional and affine Lie algebras.
We show that our algorithm can be used in the study of the conformal em-
beddings where the central charge of the conformal field theory is preserved,
but the computation in this case is simplified using physical requirements.
The paper is organised as follows. In the next subsection of the introduc-
tion we fix the notation used throughout the paper. Then in section 2 we
derive the central recurrent formula for the anomalous branching coefficients
and describe the algorithm for the decomposition integrable highest weight
modules of algebra g to the modules of reductive subalgebra a 2.2. In the
next section 3 we present several examples and discuss some applications in
the physical models 4. We conclude the paper with the review of results and
the discussion of possible future developments 5.

1.1 Notation
Consider the affine Lie algebras g and a with the underlying finite-dimensional
◦ ◦
subalgebras g and a and an injection a −→ g such that a is a reductive sub-
algebra a ⊂ g with correlated root spaces: h∗a ⊂ h∗g and h∗◦ ⊂ h∗◦ .
a g
We use the following notations adopted from the paper [9].
Lµ (Lνa ) — the integrable module of g with the highest weight µ ; (resp.
integrable a -module with the highest weight ν );
r , (ra ) — the rank of the algebra g (resp. a) ;
∆ (∆a )— the root system; ∆+ (resp. ∆+ a )— the positive root system (of
g and a respectively);
mult(α)  (multa (α)) — the multiplicity of the root α in ∆ (resp. in (∆a ));
◦ ◦ ◦ ◦
∆, ∆a — the finite root system of the subalgebra g (resp. a);
N µ , (Naν ) — the weight diagram of Lµ (resp. Lνa ) ;
W , (Wa )— the corresponding Weyl group;
C , (Ca )— the fundamental Weyl chamber;

2


C̄, C̄a — the closure of the fundamental Weyl chamber;
ρ , (ρa ) — the Weyl vector;
 (w) := det
(w) ;
αi , α(a)j — the i-th (resp. j-th) basic root for g (resp. a); i = 0, . . . , r
, (j = 0, . . . , ra );
δ — the imaginary
 root of g (and of a if any);
∨ ∨
αi , α(a)j — the basic coroot for g (resp. a) , i = 0, . . . , r ; (j = 0, . . . , ra );
◦ ◦

ξ , ξ(a)— thefinite (classical) part of the weight ξ ∈ P , resp. ξ(a) ∈ Pa ;
◦
λ = λ; k; n — the decomposition of an affine weight indicating the
◦
finite part λ, level k and grade n .
P (resp. Pa ) — the weight lattice;
(MP (resp. Ma ):=  )
r ∨
Pr ∨ (2)
i=1 Zαi resp. i=1 Zα(a)i for untwisted algebras or A2r ,
= Pr Pr
(u≥2) (2)
; Ψ(µ) :=
i=1 Zαi resp. i=1 Zα(a)i for Ar and A 6= A2r ,
(ν)
(w)ew◦(µ+ρ)−ρ — the singular weight element for the g-module Lµ ; Ψ(a) :=
P
w∈W
(w)ew◦(ν+ρa )−ρa — the corresponding singular weight element for the
P
w∈Wa
a-moduleLνa ; 
(µ) (ν)
Ψ Ψ(a) — the set of singular weights ξ ∈ P (resp. ∈ Pa ) for the
d d
 
◦
µ ν
module L (resp. La ) with the coordinates ξ, k, n,  (w (ξ)) |ξ=w(ξ)◦(µ+ρ)−ρ ,
 
◦
0
(resp. ξ, k, n,  (wa (ξ)) |ξ=wa (ξ)◦(ν+ρa )−ρa ), (this set is similar to Pnice (µ)
in [4])  
(µ) (ν)
mξ , mξ — the multiplicity of the weight ξ ∈ P (resp. ∈ Pa ) in
the module L , (resp. ξ ∈ Lνa );
µ

ch (Lµ ) (resp. ch (Lνa ))— the formal character of Lµ (resp. Lνa );

(w)ew◦(µ+ρ)−ρ
P
(µ)
ch (Lµ ) = Q w∈W (1−e−α )mult(α) = Ψ Ψ(0)
— the Weyl-Kac formula.
α∈∆+
−α mult(α)
= Ψ(0)
Q
+ (1 − e
 R := α∈∆ ) 
mult (α) (0)
resp. Ra := α∈∆+a (1 − e−α ) a = Ψa — the denominator.
Q
L (µ) ν
Lµg↓a = bν La — the reduction of the representation;
ν∈Pa+

3
 (µ)
bν — the branching coefficients;
X (ν)
X (µ)
b(µ)
ν Ψ(a) = kλ eλ (1)
ν∈C¯a λ∈Pa

kλ — the anomalous branching coefficients;

It is important to mention that

b(µ) (µ)
ν = kν for ν ∈ C̄a (2)

2 Recurrent formula for branching coefficients

Here we present the final recurrent relation for the anomalous branching
coefficients (1).
 
(µ) 1  X 
πa (ω(µ+ρ))−ρa⊥
 X (µ)
kξ = − (ω) dim La⊥⊥ δξ−γ0 ,πa (ω(µ+ρ)−ρ) + s (γ + γ0 ) kξ+γ 
s (γ0 ) γ∈Γ
ω∈W⊥ \W a⊂g

(3)
The proof of the formula and definitions of a⊥ , W⊥ , s(γ), Γa⊂g are in the
following subsection.
In the next section we describe the algorithm for the computation of
branching coefficients based upon this formula and then present some exam-
ple and discuss physical meaning.

2.1 Proof of the recurrent formula

The decomposition of the representation of the algebra to the representations
of the subalgebra can be symbolically written using formal characters and
projection operator:
M X
Lµg↓a = b(µ)
ν La
ν
=⇒ πa (chLµg ) = b(µ)
ν chLa
ν
(4)
ν∈Pa+ ν∈Pa+

Using the Weyl-Kac formula for the character of the module we obtain the
equality
!
ω(ν+ρa )−ρa
P ω(µ+ρ)−ρ
P
ω∈W (ω)e ω∈Wa (ω)e
X
(µ)
πa Q −α )mult(α)
= bν Q (5)
α∈∆+ (1 − e + β∈∆+
a
(1 − e−β )multa (β)
ν∈Pa

It is important to mention that the projection of some of the positive roots

of the algebra g can be equal to zero. These roots are orthogonal to the root

4
space of the subalgebra a embedded into the root  space of the algebra g.

Let’s denote the subset of these roots by ∆⊥ = α ∈ ∆+ g : ∀β ∈ ∆+
a , α⊥β .
We should notice that if the set ∆⊥ is non-empty than Weyl reflections
which correspond to the positive roots of ∆⊥ generate a subgroup W⊥ of
Weyl group W . To prove it we should show that for any two positive roots
α, β ∈ ∆⊥ and corresponding Weyl reflections ωα , ωβ ∈ W⊥ there exists
Weyl reflection ωγ = ωα · ωβ ∈ W⊥ and the corresponding positive root
γ ∈ ∆⊥ . Since roots of the subalgebra a are invariant under ωα , ωβ they
are also invariant under the action of ωγ = ωα · ωβ . Then the positive root
γin∆+ which corresponds to ωγ is orthogonal to the root space of a and
hence γ ∈ ∆⊥ .
Since W⊥ is the subgroup of W and the space spanned over the set ∆⊥
is invariant under its action there exists a subalgebra with the root space
spanned over the set ∆⊥ which we denote by a⊥ .
Now we should discuss when the subset ∆⊥ is non-empty and the sub-
group W⊥ and subalgebra a⊥ are non-trivial.
If a is a maximal regular subalgebra of g then rank of a is equal to the
rank of g and it is clear that ∆⊥ is empty. Then the modules La⊥ are trivial,
the dimensions are equal to 1 and we get the formula (11) from the paper
[9].
Non-maximal regular embedding of a into g can be obtained through
the chain of maximal embeddings a ⊂ p1 ⊂ p2 ⊂ · · · ⊂ g. Also the maximal
regular embeddings are constructed by the exclusion of one or two roots from
the extended Dynkin diagram of the algebra. Since this process can give us
non-connected Dynkin diagrams we can see which roots are orthogonal to
the root space of non-maximal regular subalgebra a.
Consider for example regular embedding of A1 ⊂ B2 (su(2) ⊂ so(5)).
The extended Dynkin diagram of B2 We then drop central node and get

Figure 1: Extended Dynkin diagram of B2 and embedding of A1

the embedding A1 ⊕ A1 ⊂ B2 . Then a = A1 and a⊥ = A1 .

5
 In the case of special embeddings the set ∆⊥ can be empty as for the
special embedding of A1 ⊂ A2 with the embedding index equal to 4, or
non-empty for example for the embedding su(p) ⊂ su(p) ⊕ su(q) ⊂
TODO
Well, I can’t understand how the roots are embedded in the special embed-
dings. I need some help here.

We can multiply the equation (5) by the term
 
Y
πa  (1 − e−α )multg (α)  (6)
α∈∆+ \∆ ⊥

This term is non-zero.

Also we can see that for any formal polynomial or series Q

πa (Q)πa (1 − e−α ) = πa Q · (1 − e−α )

(7)

The equation (5) takes the form

!
ω(µ+ρ)−ρ
P
(ω)e
πa Q ω∈W −α )mult(α)
=
α∈∆⊥ (1 − e
 
ω(ν+ρa )−ρa
P
ω∈Wa (ω)e
Y X
−α mult (α) (µ)
πa  (1 − e ) g  bν Q (8)
+ + β∈∆+ (1 − e−β )multa (β)
α∈∆ \∆⊥ ν∈Pa a

The right-hand side of this equation can be reorganised as in the paper [9].
We introduce the anomalous branching coefficients kλ .
X (ν)
X (µ)
b(µ)
ν Ψ(a) = kλ eλ (9)
ν∈Pa λ∈Pa

Also we extract the common denominator of the right-hand side of the equa-
tion (8)
!
ω(µ+ρ)−ρ
P
(ω)e
πa Q ω∈W −α )mult(α)
=
α∈∆⊥ (1 − e
 
Y X (µ)
 (1 − e−α )multg (α)−multα  kλ eλ (10)
α∈πa (∆+ \∆⊥ ) λ∈Pa

6
 If the set ∆⊥ is non-empty then the Weyl reflections corresponding to the
positive roots of ∆⊥ generate a subgroup W⊥ of Weyl group W .
We have denoted the subalgebra with the root space spanned over the set
∆⊥ by a⊥ .
Then we can reorganise the summation on the left-hand side of the equa-
tion (10) in the following way. We consider the factor-group W⊥ \W and the
left conjugate classes. For the class ω̃ ∈ W⊥ \W we choose the representative
ω ∈ ω̃ in such a way that ω(µ + ρ) ∈ C̄a⊥ . Then
!
ω(µ+ρ)−ρ
P
(ω)e
πa Q ω∈W −α )mult(α)
=
α∈∆⊥ (1 − e
 
ν·ω(µ+ρ)−ρ
P
X ν∈W⊥ (ν)e
πa  (ω) Q −α )mult(α)
 (11)
α∈∆⊥ (1 − e
ω∈W⊥ \W

We see that the fraction on the right-hand side of the equation looks like
the character of some representation of the algebra a⊥ . In order to write it
explicitly we rewrite ν · ω(µ + ρ) − ρ as


ν ·ω(µ+ρ)−ρ = ν · ω(µ+ρ)−πa (ω(µ+ρ))−ρa⊥ +ρa⊥ +πa (ω(µ+ρ)) −ρ (12)
Since ν · πa (ω(µ + ρ)) = πa (ω(µ + ρ)) and ω(µ + ρ) − πa (ω(µ + ρ)) =
πa⊥ (ω(µ + ρ)), we get
ν·ω(µ+ρ)−ρ
P
ν∈W⊥ (ν)e
X
(ω) Q −α )mult(α)
=
ω∈W⊥ \W α∈∆⊥ (1 − e

ρa⊥ ν·(πa⊥ (ω(µ+ρ))−ρa⊥ +ρa⊥ )−ρa⊥

P
X e ν∈W⊥ (ν)e
(ω)eπa (ω(µ+ρ))−ρ Q =
α∈∆ (1 − e−α )mult(α)
ω∈W⊥ \W ⊥

πa (ω(µ+ρ))−ρa⊥
X
(ω)eπa (ω(µ+ρ))−ρ eρa⊥ chLa⊥⊥ (13)
ω∈W⊥ \W

πa (ω(µ+ρ))−ρa
The projection πa of the character of the highest-weight module La⊥⊥ ⊥

is equal to the dimension of the module multiplied by the identity element

of the algebra of formal exponents. So we have
 
πa (ω(µ+ρ))−ρa⊥
X
πa  (ω)eπa (ω(µ+ρ))−ρ eρa⊥ chLa⊥⊥ =
ω∈W⊥ \W
 
πa (ω(µ+ρ))−ρa⊥
X
(ω) dim La⊥⊥ eπa (ω(µ+ρ)−ρ) (14)
ω∈W⊥ \W

7
These dimensions of the modules could be easily calculated using Weyl for-
mula.
This explicit calculation to get the character of the a⊥ representation can
be thought as the calculation of the character of the a⊥ ⊕ h-module with the
highest weight ω(µ + ρ), where h is the Cartan subalgebra of g.
Thus we have the equality
 
πa (ω(µ+ρ))−ρa⊥
X
(ω)dim La⊥⊥ eπa (ω(µ+ρ)−ρ) =
ω∈W⊥ \W
 
Y X (µ)
 (1 − e−α )multg (α)−multα  kλ eλ (15)
α∈πa (∆+ \∆⊥ ) λ∈Pa

We can rewrite the multiplier of the right-hand side as in the paper [9].
Y
mult(α)−multa (α) X
1 − e−α =− s(γ)e−γ (16)
α∈πa ◦(∆+ \∆⊥ ) γ∈Pa

For the coefficient function s (γ) define Φa⊂g ⊂ Pa as its carrier:

Φa⊂g = {γ ∈ Pa | s (γ) 6= 0} ; (17)

Y
mult(α)−multa (α) X
1 − e−α =− s (γ) e−γ . (18)
α∈πa ◦(∆+ \∆ ⊥) γ∈Φa⊂g

So we get the equation

 
πa (ω(µ+ρ))−ρa⊥
X
(ω)dim La⊥⊥ eπa (ω(µ+ρ)−ρ) =
ω∈W⊥ \W
X X (µ)
=− s (γ) e−γ kλ eλ
γ∈Φa⊂g λ∈Pa
X X (µ)
=− s (γ) kλ eλ−γ (19)
γ∈Φa⊂g λ∈Pa

From the equality of the coefficients of the equal formal exponents we get
 
πa (ω(µ+ρ))−ρa⊥
X X (µ)
(ω)dim La⊥⊥ δξ,πa (ω(µ+ρ)−ρ) + s(γ) kξ+γ = 0; ξ ∈ Pa
ω∈W⊥ \W γ∈Φa⊂g
(20)
To get the recurrent relation for the anomalous branching coefficients we
should use the following procedure, introduced in the paper [9].

8
 ◦
Let γ0 be the lowest vector with respect to the natural ordering in ∆a in
the lowest grade of Φa⊂g . Decomposing the defining relation
Y
mult(α)−multa (α) X
1 − e−α = −s (γ0 ) e−γ0 − s (γ) e−γ ,
α∈πa ◦(∆+ \∆⊥ ) γ∈Φa⊂g \{γ0 }
(21)
in (20) we obtain

 
(µ) 1  X 
πa (ω(µ+ρ))−ρa⊥
 X (µ)
kξ =− (ω) dim La⊥⊥ δξ−γ0 ,πa (ω(µ+ρ)−ρ) + s (γ + γ0 ) kξ+γ 
s (γ0 ) γ∈Γa⊂g
ω∈W⊥ \W
(22)
where the set
Γa⊂g = {ξ − γ0 |ξ ∈ Φa⊂g } \ {0} . (23)
So we’ve obtained recurrent relation for the anomalous branching coeffi-
cients. In the next section we describe the algorithm for the computation of
branching coefficients using the relation (22).

2.2 Algorithm for the recursive computation of the

branching coefficients
We use the recurrent relation (22) to formulate the algorithm for recursive
computation of the branching coefficients. It is important to mention that the
computation of the branching coefficients is organised without the explicit
(µ) (ν)
construction of the module Lg and any of the modules La .
The algorithm is divided into the following steps.

1. Construct the set ∆+ of the positive roots of the algebra g.

2. Select the positive roots α ∈ ∆+ which are orthogonal to the root

subspace of the subalgebra a and form the set ∆⊥ .

3. Construct the set Ψd(µ) = {ω(µ + ρ) − ρ; ω ∈ W } of the anomalous

points of the g-module L(µ) .

4. Select those weights λ = ω(µ + ρ) which lies in the closure of the main
Weyl chamber of the algebra a⊥ . Since we have constructed the set
∆⊥ we can easily check if the weight λ lies in the main Weyl chamber
of a⊥ checking that the scalar product of λ with the roots of ∆⊥ is
non-negative.

9
 5. For λ = ω(µ + ρ),λ ∈ C̄a⊥ calculate  the dimensions of the correspond-
πa⊥ (ω(µ+ρ))−ρa⊥
ing modules dim La⊥ using the Weyl formula with the
set ∆⊥ .
6. Construct the set Γ (23).
7. Calculate anomalous branching coefficients in the main Weyl chamber
of the subalgebra a using recurrent relation (22).
If we are interested in the branching coefficients for the embedding of the
finite-dimensional Lie algebra into the affine Lie algebra we can construct
the set of the anomalous points up to required grade and use steps 4-7 of the
algorithm for each grade. We can also speed up the algorithm by one-time
computation of the representatives of the conjugate classes W⊥ \W .
The next section consists of several examples computed with this algo-
rithm.

3 Examples
3.1 Finite dimensional Lie algebras
3.1.1 Regular embedding of A1 into B2
Consider the regular embedding of A1 into B2 . Simple roots α1 , α2 of B2
are drawn as the thick vectors at the figure 2. We denote the corresponding
Weyl reflections by ω1 , ω2 . Simple root β of the embedded A1 is equal to
α1 + α2 .
Let’s describe the reduction of fundamental representation of B2 with the
highest weight (in fundamental weight basis) equal to (1, 0). On the figure
2 we have also shown the set of points ω(µ + ρ), ω ∈ W of fundamental
representation of B2 with the corresponding determinants of Weyl reflections
(ω). Now we have to factorise the Weyl group W by W⊥ = {ω1 }. We get
the following set of anomalous points ω(µ + ρ) − ρ, ω ∈ W⊥ \W : We have
πa (ω(µ+ρ))−ρa⊥
also depicted the corresponding a⊥ = A1 -modules La⊥⊥ . Then
we project these points and dimensions of modules onto the root space of
subalgebra a = A1 and get the following anomalous points in fundamental
weights basis with corresponding multiplicities:
(1, 2), (0, −3), (−4, 3), (−5, −2) (24)
For the function s(γ) and the set Γ from the definition (17,23) we have
(0, 1), (1, 2), (2, −1) (25)

10
 −1 +1

+1 −1

−1 +1

+1 −1

Figure 2: Regular embedding of A1 into B2

3
−3 +2
2

+3 −1
−2

−3
−2

Figure 3: Anomalous points and the corresponding a⊥ = A1 -modules

11
Here the second component denotes the value of s(γ).
(1,0)
Anomalous branching coefficient k1 = 2, then for anomalous branching
(1,0)
coefficient k0 the formula (22) gives us
(1,0) (1,0) (1,0
k0 = −1 · k2 + 2 · k1 − 3 · δ0,0 = 1 (26)

So we’ve computed the branching coefficients.

3.1.2 Embedding of B2 into B4

Consider the the regular embedding of the subalgebra B2 into the algebra B4 .
We calculate the branching coefficients for the fundamental representation of
B4 . The corresponding Dynkin diagrams are in the figure.

Figure 4: Dynkin diagrams

In the orthogonal basis e1 , . . . , e4 simple roots of B4 are

(e1 − e2 , e2 − e3 , e3 − e4 , e4 ) (27)

Positive roots are

(e1 − e2 , e2 − e3 , e3 − e4 , e4 , e1 − e3 , e2 − e4 , e3 + e4 , e3 , e1 − e4 ,
e2 + e4 , e2 , e1 + e4 , e2 + e3 , e1 , e1 + e3 , e1 + e2 ) (28)

Simple roots of the embedded subalgebra a = B2 are

(e3 − e4 , e4 ) (29)

12
 The set ∆⊥ is equal to

{e1 − e2 , e1 + e2 , e1 , e2 } (30)

We see that this is the set of positive roots of the algebra a⊥ = B2 .

To find the branching coefficients we need to compute the anomalous
points of B4 , select point lying in the main Weyl chamber of a⊥ and compute
the dimensions of corresponding a⊥ -modules.
We consider the B4 -module with the highest weight µ = (0, 1, 0, 2) =
2e1 + 2e2 + e3 + e4 .
The set of the anomalous points ω(µ + ρ) − ρ, ω ∈ W consists of 384
points. We don’t show it here.
We need to select those points ω(µ + ρ) which are projected into the main
chamber of the embedded algebra a⊥ . It means that scalar product of these
points with all the roots from ∆⊥ is non-negative.
To compute dimensions of the corresponding a⊥ -modules we need to
project each selected point onto the root space ∆⊥ and substract ρa⊥ , then
use Weyl dimension formula.
We show the result of this procedure on the figure 5.
Then we should construct “the fan” and use the recurrent relation for the
computation of anomalous branching coefficients.
Using the definition (23) we get the following set of the points Γ with the
corresponding values s(γ + γ0 ) We use the recurrent relation (22) and get
following branching coefficients:
 
(0,1,0,2) (0,0) (0,2) (1,0) (2,0) (1,2) (2,2)
πa chLB4 = 6 chLB2 +60 chLB2 +30 chLB2 +19 chLB2 +40 chLB2 +10 chLB2
(31)
(0,1,0,2)
The dimension of the highest-weight B4 -module LB4 is equal to 2772. It
is easy to see, that right-hand side of the equation (31) gives the same result.

3.2 Affine Lie algebras

3.2.1 Embedding of the affine algebra into affine algebra
Consider the affine extension of the example 3.1.1. Since this embedding is
regular, the level of the representations of the subalgebra is equal to the level
of the representation of the algebra.
The set ∆⊥ of the orthogonal positive roots with the zero projection on
the root space of the subalgebra Â1 is the same as in the finite-dimensional
case.
Consider the level one representation of the algebra g = B̂2 with the high-
est weight w1 = (1, 0, 1, 0), where the first to components are the coordinates

13
 10 –81 105 4 –105 81 –10

–10 154 –220 220 –154 10

81 –154 165 –165 154 –81

–6 –4 –2 2 4
–105 220 –165 0 165 –220 105

–2

105 –220 165 –165 220 –105

–81 154 –165 –4 165 –154 81

10 –154 220 –6–220 154 –10

–10 81 –105 105 –81 10

Figure 5: Anomalous points with the dimensions of corresponding a⊥ -

modules.

of the classical part in the orthogonal basis e1 , e2 , the third is the grade of
the weight and the fourth is the level.
The set of the anomalous points of this representation up to sixth grade
is depicted in the figure 7 and in each grade it looks like in the figure 2.
As the next step of our algorithm 2.2 we project the anomalous points to
the weight space of the subalgebra Â1 and calculate the dimensions of the
πa (ω(µ+ρ))−ρa⊥
corresponding a⊥ -modules La⊥⊥ . The result of this computation
up to the twelfth grade is presented at the figure
Then we should construct “the fan” and use the recurrent relation for the
computation of anomalous branching coefficients.
Using the definition (23) we get the following set of the points Γ with the
corresponding values s(γ + γ0 ): 9. Here we restricted the computation to the
twelfth grade.

14
 4 1 –4 6 –4 1

3 –4 16 –24 16 –4

2 6 –24 36 –24 6

1 –4 16 –24 16 –4

0 –4 6 –4 1
0 1 2 3 4

Figure 6: Fan for B2 ⊂ B4

Also we should mention that the lowest vector of the fan γ0 is equal to
zero, since we have excluded all the roots of ∆⊥ from the defining relation
(23).
Using the recurrent relation for the anomalous branching coefficients we
get the following result
Selecting the points inside the main Weyl chamber of the subalgebra Â1

15
 6

2
–6 –5 –4 –3 5
–2 –1
0

–2

–4

–6

–8

Figure 7: The anomalous points of the (1, 0, 1, 0) representation of the algebra

B̂2

we get the following results for the branching coefficients up to twelfth grade

Lw 1
Bˆ ↓Aˆ
= 2Lw
Aˆ
1
(0) ⊕ 1Lw
Aˆ
0
(0) ⊕ 4Lw
Aˆ
0
(−1)⊕
2 1 1 1 1

2Lw 1
Aˆ1
(−1) ⊕ 8Lw 0
Aˆ1
(−2) ⊕ 8Lw 1
Aˆ1
(−2) ⊕ 15Lw 0
Aˆ1
(−3)⊕
w1 w1 w0 w0
12LAˆ (−3) ⊕ 26LAˆ (−4) ⊕ 29LAˆ (−4) ⊕ 51LAˆ (−5)⊕
1 1 1 1

42Lw
Aˆ
1
(−5) ⊕ 78Lw
Aˆ
1
(−6) ⊕ 85Lw
Aˆ
0
(−6) ⊕ 120Lw
Aˆ
1
(−7)⊕
1 1 1 1

139Lw 0
Aˆ1
(−7) ⊕ 202Lw 1
Aˆ1
(−8) ⊕ 222Lw 0
Aˆ1
(−8) ⊕ 306Lw
Aˆ
1
(−9)⊕
1

346Lw
Aˆ
0
(−9) ⊕ 530Lw
Aˆ
0
(−10) ⊕ 482Lw
Aˆ
1
(−10) ⊕ 714Lw
Aˆ
1
(−11)⊕
1 1 1 1

797Lw
Aˆ
0
(−11) ⊕ 1080Lw
Aˆ
1
(−12) ⊕ 1180Lw
Aˆ
0
(−12) (32)
1 1 1

This result can be expressed using the power series expansion of the branching

16
 6 3
6 –2

–6 2
4 5 –3

2 –13 11 –5 3
–10 6 –2

–14 10 –6 2
0 13 –11 5 –3

–2 –13 11 –5 3
14 –10 6 –2

10 –6 2
–4 13 –11 5 –3

–6 –5 3
6 –2

–6 2
–8 –3
–12 –10 –8 –6 –4 –2 0

Figure 8: Projected anomalous points and the dimensions of a⊥ -modules.

functions [3].
(w1 )
b0 = 1 + 4 q 1 + 8 q 2 + 15 q 3 + 29 q 4 + 51 q 5 + 85 q 6 + 139 q 7 +
(33)
222 q 8 + 346 q 9 + 530 q 10 + 797 q 11 + 1180 q 12 + . . .
(w1 )
b1 = 2 + 2 q 1 + 8 q 2 + 12 q 3 + 26 q 4 + 42 q 5 + 78 q 6 + 120 q 7 +
(34)
202 q 8 + 306 q 9 + 482 q 10 + 714 q 11 + 1080 q 12 + . . .

Here the lower index of the branching function denotes the number of the
corresponding Â1 fundamental weight w0 = λ0 = (0, 1, 0), w1 = α/2 =
(1, 1, 0).

17
 4 1
–2 2 2
3 1 1 –3 –2 2 –1
–2 2 2 2 –2 –2 –2 2
2 1 1 –3 –2 2 –1 1 2 4 –2
–2 2 2 2 –2 –2 –2 2 –2 –2
11 1 –3 –2 2 –1 1 2 4 –2 –1
–2 2 2 2 –2 –2 –2 2 –2 –2

0 1 –3 –2 2 –1 1 2 4 –2 –1
2 4 6 8 10 12
–2 2 2 2 –2 –2 –2 2 –2 –2
–1 1 1 –3 –2 2 –1 1 2 4 –2
–2 2 2 2 –2 –2 –2 2
–2 1 1 –3 –2 2 –1
–2 2 2
–3 1

Figure 9: Fan for Â1 ⊂ B̂2

6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–8 –4 –1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–26 –12 –8 –2 –2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
120 78 42 26 12 8 2 2 0 0 0 0 0
222 139 85 51 29 15 8 4 1 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 –530 –346 –222 –139 –85 –51 –29 –15 –8 –4 –1 0 0
–714 –482 –306 –202 –120 –78 –42 –26 –12 –8 –2 –2 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1080 714 482 306 202 120 78 42 26 12 8 2 2
0 1180 797 530 346 222 139 85 51 29 15 8 4 1
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–1180 –797 –530 –346 –222 –139 –85 –51 –29 –15 –8 –4 –1
–1080 –714 –482 –306 –202 –120 –78 –42 –26 –12 –8 –2 –2
–2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
714 482 306 202 120 78 42 26 12 8 2 2 0
530 346 222 139 85 51 29 15 8 4 1 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–4 –222 –139 –85 –51 –29 –15 –8 –4 –1 0 0 0 0
–120 –78 –42 –26 –12 –8 –2 –2 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
26 12 8 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–6 8 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–12 –10 –8 –6 –4 –2 0

Figure 10: Anomalous branching coefficients for Â1 ⊂ B̂2

18
4 Physical applications
Here we want to discuss possible applications of the described techniques in
physical models.
Branching coefficients for the embedding of affine Lie subalgebra into
affine Lie algebra can be used to construct modular invariant partition func-
tions of Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten models ([1], [10], [11], [12]).
But for this construction to work the embedding is required to be confor-
mal, which means that the central charge of the subalgebra is equal to the
central charge of the algebra.

c(a) = c(g) (35)

The class of the conformal embeddings is rather small, the complete clas-
sification is given in the paper [12]. The requirement (35) allows to reduce
the task of the computation of the branching coefficients of affine Lie algebras
to the computation of the branching coefficients of the finite-dimensional Lie
algebras.
Here we describe this procedure and discuss how the requirement (35)
can be used to simplify the algorithm 2.2.
Conformal embeddings should preserve conformal invariance, so Sug-
awara central charge should be the same for enveloping and embedded theory.
The states for the theory that corresponds to the algebra g
a1
J−n J a2 . . . |λi
1 −n2
n1 ≥ n2 ≥ · · · > 0 (36)

For sub-algebra a ⊂ g
0
a1 ˜a2 0
J˜−n J
1 −n2
. . . |πa (λ)i (37)
a0
Here J˜−n j
j
are the generators of a and πa is the projection of g to a. g-
invariance of vacuum entails its a-invariance, but it is not the case for energy-
momentum tensor. So energy-momentum tensor of bigger theory should
consist only of generators of a. Then Tg = Ta ⇒ c(g) = c(a). This leads to
equation
k dim g xe k dim a
= (38)
k+g xe k + a
Here xe is the embedding index and g, a are dual Coxeter numbers of corre-
sponding algebras.
It can be shown that solutions of equation (38) exist only for level 1 k = 1
[1].
If we have modular-invariant partition function for the fields described by
the representation of the algebra g this modular invariance is preserved by

19
the projection on the subalgebra a, but we need also the preservation of the
conformal invariance. So we should select only those highest-weight modules
of the subalgebra a for which the relation (38) holds.
Since in the decomposition (4) the highest weight ν of the subalgebra
(µ)
module belongs to some grade n of projected algebra module πa · Lg , from
the relation (38) one can obtain the following requirement on the conformal
dimensions of the corresponding fields
∆πa µ + n = ∆ν (39)
It leads to the relation on the classical parts of the corresponding weights:
◦ ◦ ◦ ◦
(µ, µ + 2ρ) (ν, ν + 2ρa )
+n= (40)
2(1 + g) 2(xe + a)
There exits the finite reducibility theorem for the conformal embeddings
which states that only finite number of the branching coefficients is non-zero
in the case of the conformal embedding a ⊂ a.
Then after we have found all such weights ν and P the corresponding
(µ) (µ)
branching coefficients bν we can substitute the sums ν∈Pa+ bν χν over the
modified characters χν of the corresponding a-modules in place of the char-
acters of the g-modules in the diagonal modular-invariant partition function
X
Z(τ ) = χµ (τ )χ̄µ (τ̄ ) (41)
µ∈Pg+

Thus we obtain the non-diagonal modular-invariant partition function for

the theory with the current algebra a.
X
Za (τ ) = χν (τ )Mνλ χ̄λ (τ̄ ) (42)
ν,λ∈Pa+

4.1 Example
Consider the level ten embedding of the affine Â1 into the level one affine
Ĉ2 . The relation (40) and the finite reducibility theorem greatly simplify the
calculation with the algorithm 2.2, since we know that there exists only finite
number of the non-zero branching coefficients and the maximal grade of this
coefficients is restricted.
TODO
Do the calculation, show the restriction on the grade and the final result
 2  2  2
Z = χ[10,0] + χ[4,6]  + χ[7,3] + χ[3,7]  + χ[6,4] + χ[0,10]  (43)

20
5 Conclusion
We have proved the recurrent relation on the branching coefficients and pro-
posed practical algorithm of the reduction of the representations. Also we
have discussed the application of this algorithm to the physical problem of
construction of modular-invariant partition functions in the conformal field
theory. This method of conformal embeddings is well-known but may be ac-
tual in the study of WZW-models emerging in the context of the AdS/CFT
correspondence [13, 14, 15].
TODO
What about acknowledgements?


References
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Springer, 1997.

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[3] V. Kac, Infinite dimensional Lie algebras. Cambridge University Press,

1990.

[4] M. Wakimoto, Infinite-dimensional Lie algebras. American

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[5] B. Fauser, P. Jarvis, R. King, and B. Wybourne, “New branching rules

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[6] S. Hwang and H. Rhedin, “General branching functions of affine Lie

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sl3 subspaces and quantum Toda Hamiltonians,” arxiv 707 .

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 [9] M. Ilyin, P. Kulish, and V. Lyakhovsky, “On a property of branching
coefficients for affine Lie algebras,” Algebra i Analiz, to appear, arXiv
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[10] M. Walton, “Affine Kac-Moody algebras and the Wess-Zumino-Witten

model,” arXiv:hep-th/9911187.

[11] M. Walton, “Conformal branching rules and modular invariants,”

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[12] A. Schellekens and N. Warner, “Conformal subalgebras of Kac-Moody

algebras,” Physical Review D 34 (1986) no. 10, 3092–3096.

[13] J. M. Maldacena and H. Ooguri, “Strings in AdS(3) and SL(2,R)

WZW model. I,” J. Math. Phys. 42 (2001) 2929–2960,
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[14] J. M. Maldacena, H. Ooguri, and J. Son, “Strings in AdS(3) and the

SL(2,R) WZW model. II: Euclidean black hole,” J. Math. Phys. 42
(2001) 2961–2977, arXiv:hep-th/0005183.

[15] J. M. Maldacena and H. Ooguri, “Strings in AdS(3) and the SL(2,R)

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106006, arXiv:hep-th/0111180.

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