Theory HEP Seminar

Physics in Moonshine

Paul de Lange

University of Kentucky

Monstrous moonshine is a mathematical statement, relating modular functions and finite groups. However, in understanding monstrous moonshine and related phenomena, we come across many concepts that find their origin in physics. In this talk I want to gloss over some recent instances of such interplay between physics and moonshine. After introducing an example of moonshine found in the K3 elliptic genus, I formulate the so-called Generalized (Umbral) Moonshine Conjecture of arxiv:1608.07835, borrowing ideas from Orbifold CFT. If time permits, I will show how monstrous moonshine may help us to understand the Cardy regime in AdS₃/CFT₂ and will speculate on enhanced (modular) symmetries of CFTs in a grand canonical ensemble.