A categorification of the ribbon element in quantum \(sl(2)\) (Q2043334)

The authors exhibit a bicomplex \( r \mathbf{1}_n \) in the homotopy category of Lauda's categorified quantum \( sl(2) \) [\textit{A. D. Lauda}, Adv. Math. 225, No. 6, 3327--3424 (2010; Zbl 1219.17012)] whose Euler characteristic is an idempotented version of the ribbon element. This bicomplex is bounded below for the two homological degrees and it has properties inducing well-know properties of the ribbon element on its Euler characteristic, namely centrality, invertibility and a symmetry under a certain operation. As everything else in this paper, the aforementioned complex is presented explicitly and its properties are proved by exhibiting explicit isomorphisms or homotopy equivalences between the complexes involved.