A polynomial action on colored \(\mathfrak {sl}_2\) link homology (Q1733104)

In this paper the author addresses the problem that the colored \(\mathfrak{sl}_2\) link homology of \textit{B. Cooper} and \textit{V. Krushkal} [Quantum Topol. 3, No. 2, 139--180 (2012; Zbl 1362.57015)] is infinite dimensional, and thus not a candidate for functoriality under \(4\)-dimensional link cobordism. As a first step, the polynomial action of the title is constructed, and it is shown that the homology is finitely generated over the polynomial ring. The main reason for the infinite dimensionality comes from the categorification of the Jones-Wenzl projectors \(p_n\) in the Temperley-Lieb algebra \(TL_n\), which requires unbounded complexes in order to categorify the factor \((1-q^{2k})^{-1}=\sum_{i=0}^\infty q^{2ki}\). By categorifying the elements \((1-q^{2n})p_n\in TL_n\) to complexes \(Q_n\), the author gets a good deal closer to a finite dimensional categorification. These complexes \(Q_n\) are defined as a convolution and can be thought of as an iterated mapping cone. For \(n\geq 4\) they are not chain homotopy equivalent to a bounded complex, but the tensor product of stabilizations \(K_n=(Q_2\sqcup 1_{n-2})\otimes (Q_3\sqcup 1_{n-3})\otimes \cdots \otimes Q_n\) is. This is used to define a link homology which categorifies the \(\mathfrak{sl}_2\) Reshetikhin-Turaev invariant up to a scalar multiple depending only on the colors and numbers of marked points. It can be chosen homotopy equivalent to a bounded complex even on the level of tangles. With this link homology the author attacks a conjecture of Gorsky-Oblomkov-Rasmussen [\textit{E. Gorsky} et al., Exp. Math. 22, No. 3, 265--281 (2013; Zbl 1281.57003)] concerning the limit Khovanov homology of \((n,r)\)-torus links as \(r\to\infty\). A detailed appendix gives information on convolutions and other homological algebra constructions needed in the paper.