Quasiconformal Teichmuller theory as an analytical foundation for two-dimensional conformal field theory

The functorial mathematical definition of conformal field theory was first formulated approximately 30 years ago. The underlying geometric category is based on the moduli space of Riemann surfaces with parametrized boundary components and the sewing operation. We survey the recent and careful study of these objects, which has led to significant connections with quasiconformal Teichmuller theory and geometric function theory. In particular we propose that the natural analytic setting for conformal field theory is the moduli space of Riemann surfaces with so-called WeilPetersson class parametrizations. A collection of rigorous analytic results is advanced here as evidence. This class of parametrizations has the required regularity for CFT on one hand, and on the other hand are natural and of interest in their own right in geometric function theory.