English

A categorification of quantum sl(2)

Quantum Algebra 2010-10-22 v3

Abstract

We categorify Lusztig's version of the quantized enveloping algebra for sl(2). Using a graphical calculus a 2-category is constructed whose split Grothendieck ring is isomorphic to Lusztig's algebra. The indecomposable morphisms of this 2-category lift Lusztig's canonical basis, and the Homs between 1-morphisms are graded lifts of a semilinear form defined on quantum sl(2). Graded lifts of various homomorphisms and antihomomorphisms of Lusztig's algebra arise naturally in the context of our graphical calculus. Using iterated flag varieties, a representation of the 2-category is constructed for each positive integer N. This representation categorifies the irreducible (N+1)-dimensional representation of quantum sl(2).

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0803.3652,
  title  = {A categorification of quantum sl(2)},
  author = {Aaron D. Lauda},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0803.3652},
  year   = {2010}
}

Comments

89 pages, LaTeX2e with xypic and pstricks macros v3. updates notation to match arXiv:0807.3250 and corrects misprints

R2 v1 2026-06-21T10:24:28.426Z