A categorification of the Casimir of quantum \(\mathfrak{sl}(2)\) (Q436244)

The paper under review categorifies the Casimir element, which is the free generator of the centre of \(U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_2)\) as a \(\mathbb{Z}[q,q^{-1}]\)-algebra. This is a first step towards categorification of Lawrence's universal \(\mathfrak{sl}_2\) invariant of knots, within the context of the categorified representation theory of \(U_q(\mathfrak{sl}_2)\). The main technical tool to handle the increased combinatorial complexity seen in such categorified structures is the diagrammatic calculus of a certain categorified algebra introduced by the third author [Adv. Math. 225, No. 6, 3327--3424 (2010; Zbl 1219.17012)].