Annular Khovanov-Lee homology, braids, and cobordisms (Q1623083)

The Khovanov homology theory for links has been the source of one of the most interesting streams of developments in low dimensional topology, and has been modified and extended in various directions. One of the early modifications of Khovanov homology is that of \textit{E. S. Lee} [Adv. Math. 197, No. 2, 554--586 (2005; Zbl 1080.57015)], where she defines a new differential on the Khovanov chain complex. In [\textit{J. Rasmussen}, Invent. Math. 182, No. 2, 419--447 (2010; Zbl 1211.57009)] Lee's theory was found to have a $\mathbb{Z}$-filtration, thus a new knot invariant was defined, which gives a lower bound on the $4$-ball genus of the knot, which yields a combinatorial proof of the topological Milnor conjecture. \par On the other hand, in [\textit{M. M. Asaeda} et al., Algebr. Geom. Topol. 4, 1177--1210 (2004; Zbl 1070.57008)] and [\textit{L. P. Roberts}, Geom. Topol. 17, No. 1, 413--467 (2013; Zbl 1415.57009)] Khovanov theory was defined for links in a thickend annulus, $A \times I$. In the current paper the authors study the Lee complex of annular links. They introduce a $\mathbb{Z} \oplus \mathbb{Z}$ filtration on the Lee complex with respect to various slopes in the $\mathbb{Z} \oplus \mathbb{Z}$ lattice and define a new invariant $d_t(L, o)$, where $t \in [0,2]$ parametrizes slopes. They show various properties of $d_t$, including that $d_0$ agrees with the Rasmussen invariant. Using this invariant the authors also construct nested sub-classes of braids between quasi-positive braids and right-veering braids, which are of interest as giving conditions for tightness of contact structures of double branched coverings of $S^3$ over the link obtained as a braid closure.