Algebra Seminar: Towards a braided monoidal 2-category via Soergel bimodules

Abstract: Starting from braided monoidal categories of quantum group representations and categorification results one comes to the question whether categorification can be used to construct a corresponding braided monoidal 2-category. In this talk we start from the observation that the Hecke algebras for all symmetric groups taken together form a braided monoidal category that controls all quantum link invariants of type A. We then discuss the problem of categorification and present some answers using Soergel bimodule categories. On the way we will address strictness of monoidal categories and centralizer constructions which should be of interest on its own.

This is partially based on joint work with Aaron-Maazel Gee, Leon Liu, David Reutter and Paul Wedrich.

Join on site or via Zoom link (Meeting ID: 645 5572 6999, please contact the organizer for passcode)

This is a seminar in our algebra seminar series.