The universal \(\mathrm{sl}_3\)-link homology (Q2464785)

In [Fundam. Math. 190, 179--190 (2006; Zbl 1101.57004)], \textit{M. Khovanov} classified all possible \(2\)-dimensional Frobenius systems which give rise to link homologies, and showed that there is a universal one given by \[ \mathbb Z[X,a,b]/\left(X^2-aX-b\right). \] Taking \(a,b\) to be complex numbers, \textit{M. Mackaay, P. Turner} and \textit{P. Vaz} [J. Knot Theory Ramifications 16, No. 3, 333--344 (2007; Zbl 1135.57006)] showed that there are exactly two isomorphism classes of \(\text{sl}_2\)-link homologies over \(\mathbb C\) depending on whether the number of distinct roots of \(X^2-aX-b\) is one or two. This paper tackles the corresponding problem for \(\mathrm{sl}_3\), showing that there is a universal \(\text{sl}_3\)-link homology given by \[ \mathbb Z[X,a,b,c]/\left(X^3-aX^2-bX-c\right). \] Taking \(a,b,c\) to be complex numbers, it is shown that there are exactly three isomorphism classes of \(\text{sl}_3\)-link homologies over \(\mathbb C\) depending on whether the number of distinct roots of \(f(X)=X^3-aX^2-bX-c\) is one, two, or three. If \(f(X)\) has one root of multiplicity three or three distinct roots, the corresponding link homology theories are isomorphic to Khovanov's \(\text{sl}_3\)-link homology theory [\textit{M. Khovanov}, Algebr. Geom. Topol. 4, 1045--1081 (2004; Zbl 1159.57300)] or to Gornik's \(\text{sl}_3\)-link homology theory [\textit{B. Gornik}, ``Note on Khovanov link cohomology'', preprint, arXiv:math.QA/0402266]. Correspondingly, the case of \(f(X)\) having two distinct roots gives a new \(\mathrm{sl}_3\)-link homology theory, which is isomorphic to a direct sum of degree-shifted Khovanov \(\mathrm{sl}_2\)-link homology theories of sublinks. An analogue to Bar-Natan's tautological homology construction is used, defining a functor from the category of links and cobordisms to the category of webs and foams modulo some relations. This allows a simple proof of functoriality. The universal \(\text{sl}_3\)-link homology was discovered independently by \textit{S. Morrison} and \textit{A. Nieh} [J. Knot Theory Ramifications 17, No. 9, 1121--1173 (2008; Zbl 1300.57013)] via a planar algebra approach, which is local and purely topological.