The Finite Basis Problem is a classical problem in universal algebra. In this talk, I will introduce the problem and necessary notions. Then I will present my recent contribution: an abelian Mal'cev variety is finitely based if and only if its ring of binary idempotent terms is finitely presented and its module of unary terms is finitely presented.
A characterization of finitely based abelian Mal'cev varieties
In a series of celebrated work, D. Kazhdan and G. Lusztig constructed braided tensor category structure on the category of finite length modules for the affine Lie algebras when the level plus dual Coxeter number is not a positive rational number, and proved that the category is equivalent to the category of finite dimensional weight modules for the quantum groups. In this talk, we discuss our recent progress on tensor categories at positive rational levels using vertex operator algebra approach. Concretely, We construct braided tensor category structure on the category of ordinary modules for simple affine vertex operator algebras and prove rigidity in some cases. For affine sl_2 Lie algebra, we also study two bigger representation categories, one is the category of weight modules for the simple affine vertex operator algebra, which is neither finite or semisimple, we prove its rigidity, the other is the category of finite length modules for the universal affine vertex operator algebra, we show this category is derived equivalent to the category of the quantum groups. This talk is based on a series of joint work with T. Creutzig, Y.-Z. Huang and R. McRae.
Representation and tensor category of affine sl_2 Lie algebra at positive rational level Sponsored by the Meyer Fund