The Khovanov homology of infinite braids (Q1656338)

The \(n\)-strand Temperley-Lieb algebra contains a specific idempotent \(P_n\), called the Jones-Wenzl projector. These projectors play an important role in constructions of \(\mathrm{SU}(2)\)-quantum invariants of 3-manifolds. Various constructions for categorifications to a semi-infinite chain complex \(\mathbf{P}_n\) have been given, for example, by \textit{B. Cooper} and \textit{V. Krushkal} [Quantum Topol. 3, No. 2, 139--180 (2012; Zbl 1362.57015)], and \textit{L. Rozansky} [Fundam. Math. 225, 305--326 (2014; Zbl 1336.57025)]. Rozansky's construction obtains \(\mathbf{P}_n\) as a limit of Khovanov complexes coming from an infinite torus braid \(\mathcal{T}^\infty\) on \(n\)-strands. While the Cooper-Krushkal construction is different, they obtain universality properties that show their construction is chain homotopy equivalent to Rozansky's construction. The main result of this paper shows that many different semi-infinite braids can be used in place of the infinite torus braid used by Rozansky, to give a chain homotopy equivalent chain complex. More precisely, let \(\mathcal{B}\) be a limit of positive braid words which is complete in the sense that any standard generator \(\sigma_i\) of the \(n\)-strand braid group appears infinitely often. Then there is a well defined limit Khovanov chain complex \(KC(\mathcal{B})\) chain homotopy equivalent to \(\mathcal{P}_n\). The basic idea is that \(KC(\mathcal{B})\) contains a copy of \(KC(\mathcal{T}^\infty)\) with the error term a limit of complexes whose homology stabilizes at \(0\). A second theorem shows that their techniques carry over to the Khovanov stable homotopy type recently introduced by \textit{R. Lipshitz} and \textit{S. Sarkar} [J. Am. Math. Soc. 27, No. 4, 983--1042 (2014; Zbl 1345.57014)].