Ordered spanning sets for vertex operator algebras and their modules

Moonshine relates three fundamental mathematical objects: the Monster sporadic simple group, the modular function j, and the moonshine module vertex operator algebra. Examining the relationship between modular functions and the representation theory of vertex operator algebras reveals rich structure. In particular, C2-cofiniteness (also called Zhu’s finiteness condition) implies the existence of finite generating sets and Poincare-Birkhoff-Witt-like spanning sets for vertex operator algebras and their modules. These spanning sets feature desirable ordering restrictions, e.g., a difference-one condition.