Orateur
Prof.
Andrew Neitzke
(Yale University)
Description
I will describe a role of spectral networks in 2-dimensional conformal field theory: they can be used as "screening contours" in a new construction of Virasoro conformal blocks from branched double covers. The key new point is that, when three exponentiated screening contours end on a branch point of the cover, they cancel an unwanted singularity of the conformal block there. The talk is intended to be self-contained: in particular I will explain what Virasoro conformal blocks are. This is a report of joint work with Qianyu Hao.
