In this thesis, we investigate sigma models and algebraic structures emerging from a Hamiltonian description of their dynamics, both in a classical and in a quantum setup. More specifically, we derive the phase space structures together with the Hamiltonians for the bosonic two-dimensional non-linear sigma model, and also for the N=1 and N=2 supersymmetric models. A convenient framework for describing these structures are Lie conformal algebras and Poisson vertex algebras. We review these concepts, and show that a Lie conformal algebra gives a weak Courant–Dorfman algebra. We further show that a Poisson vertex algebra generated by fields of conformal weight one and zero are in a one-to-one relationship with Courant–Dorfman algebras. Vertex algebras are shown to be appropriate for describing the quantum dynamics of supersymmetric sigma models. We give two definitions of a vertex algebra, and we show that these definitions are equivalent. The second definition is given in terms of a λ-bracket and a normal ordered product, which makes computations straightforward. We also review the manifestly supersymmetric N=1 SUSY vertex algebra. We also construct sheaves of N=1 and N=2 vertex algebras. We are specifically interested in the sheaf of N=1 vertex algebras referred to as the chiral de Rham complex. We argue that this sheaf can be interpreted as a formal quantization of the N=1 supersymmetric non-linear sigma model. We review different algebras of the chiral de Rham complex that one can associate to different manifolds. In particular, we investigate the case when the manifold is a six-dimensional Calabi–Yau manifold. The chiral de Rham complex then carries two commuting copies of the N=2 superconformal algebra with central charge c=9, as well as the Odake algebra, associated to the holomorphic volume form.

O objetivo deste texto é apresentar uma classe de módulos para álgebra de Lie de campos vetoriais em um toro N -dimensional, Vect( T N ). O caso N = 1 nos dá a famosa álgebra de Witt (sua extensão central é álgebra de Virasoro). A álgebra Vect( T N ) apresenta um classe de módulos parametrizada por módulos de dimensão finita da álgebra gl N . Nosso objeto central de estudo são módulos induzidos dos módulos tensoriais de Vect( T N ) para Vect( T N +1 ). Estes módulos apresentam um quociente irredutível com espaços de peso de dimensão finita. A álgebra Vect( T N ) apresenta como subálgebra sl N +1 . Com a restrição da ação de Vect( T N ) a esta subálgebra obtemos o carácter deste quociente. Para obter um critério de irredutibilidade e construir sua realização de campo livre, consideramos uma classe de módulos para 1 (T N +1 )/ d 0 (T N +1 ) o Vect (T N ) , construída a partir de álgebras de vértice. Quando restritos a Vect (T N ) estes módulos continuam irredutíveis a menos que apareçam no chiral de De Rham. / The goal of this text is to present a class of modules for the Lie algebra of vector fields in a N -dimensional torus, Vect (T N ) . The case N = 1 give us the famous Witt algebra (its central extension is the Virasoro algebra). The algebra Vect( T N ) has a class of modules parametrized by finite dimensional gl N -modules. The central object of our study are modules induced from tensor modules for Vect( T N ) to Vect( T N +1 ). Those modules have an irreducible quotient such that every weight space has finite dimension. The algebra Vect( T N ) has as subalgebra sl N +1 . Restricting the action of Vect( T N ) to this subálgebra we have the character of this quotient. To obtain a irreducible critreria and construct a free field reazilation, we consider a class of modules for 1 (T N +1 )/ d 0 (T N +1 ) o Vect (T N ) , constructed from vertex algebras. When restricted to Vect (T N ) thesse modules remain irreducible, unless they belongs to the chiral De Rham complex.