Description
In this talk we study bridges between the different perspectives offered by vertex algebras, chiral algebras, and factorization algebras. I introduce a notion of etale pullback for factorization spaces and algebras, which allows me to define categories of universal factorization spaces/algebras in any dimension. These families of factorization algebras are equivalent to universal chiral algebras in the same dimension. In particular, when working over curves, both notions are equivalent to quasi-conformal vertex algebras. I discuss examples of universal families of dimension one already appearing in the literature, and also new examples in higher dimensions coming from Hilbert schemes.
