Modular envelopes, OSFT and nonsymmetric (non-) modular operads

  • Martin Markl

    Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract

Our aim is to introduce and advocate non- (non-symmetric) modular operads. While ordinary modular operads were inspired by the structure of the moduli space of stable complex curves, non- modular operads model surfaces with open strings outputs. An immediate application of our theory is a short proof that the modular envelope of the associative operad is the linearization of the terminal operad in the category of non- modular operads. This gives a succinct description of this object that plays an important rôle in open string field theory. We also sketch further perspectives of the presented approach.

Cite this article

Martin Markl, Modular envelopes, OSFT and nonsymmetric (non-) modular operads. J. Noncommut. Geom. 10 (2016), no. 2, pp. 775–809

DOI 10.4171/JNCG/248