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Abstract

Algebra and representation theory in modular tensor categories can be combined with tools from topological field theory to obtain a deeper understanding of rational conformal field theories in two dimensions: It allows us to establish the existence of sets of consistent correlation functions, to demonstrate some of their properties in a model-independent manner, and to derive explicit expressions for OPE coefficients and coefficients of partition functions in terms of invariants of links in three-manifolds. We show that a Morita class of (symmetric special) Frobenius algebras A in a modular tensor category \calc encodes all data needed to describe the correlators. A Morita-invariant formulation is provided by module categories over \calc. Together with a bimodule-valued fiber functor, the system (tensor category + module category) can be described by a weak Hopf algebra. The Picard group of the category \calc can be used to construct examples of symmetric special Frobenius algebras. The Picard group of the category of A-bimodules describes the internal symmetries of the theory and allows one to identify generalized Kramers-Wannier dualities.