The Virasoro algebra is a central extension of the algebra of vector fields on the circle, and it plays a crucial role in the theory of two-dimensional conformal field theory and string theory. It is named after the physicist Miguel Virasoro.
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The Virasoro algebra is the central extension of the algebra of holomorphic vector fields on a circle. Its generators are the Laurent modes of the holomorphic stress-energy tensor, and its central term is controlled by the central charge .