The twisted tensor product of \(\operatorname{dg}\) categories and a contractible 2-operad (Q6065296)

\textit{V. Drinfeld} [J. Algebra 272, No. 2, 643--691 (2004; Zbl 1064.18009)] put forward the question: ``What do DG categories form?'' It can be interpreted as a question on how to find a weak 2-category structure on \(\mathcal{C}at_{dg}^{coh}(k)\). \textit{D. Tamarkin} [Compos. Math. 143, No. 5, 1335--1358 (2007; Zbl 1138.18004)] gave an answer to this question, by constructing a contractible \(2\)-operad in the sense of \textit{M. A. Batanin} [Adv. Math. 136, No. 1, 39--103 (1998; Zbl 0912.18006)], acting on \(\mathcal{C}at_{dg}^{coh}(k)\). In this paper, B. Shoikhet constructs another contractible \(2\)-operad, acting on \(\mathcal{C}at_{dg}^{coh}(k)\). Here, the tool used is the twisted tensor product of small DG categories, which is introduced in [\textit{B. Shoikhet}, J. Noncommut. Geom. 14, No. 2, 789--820 (2020; Zbl 1477.16016)]. The author proves a one-side associativity for the twisted tensor product, making \(\mathcal{C}at_{dg}^{coh}(k)\) a skew monoidal category in the sense of [\textit{R. Street}, J. Pure Appl. Algebra 217, No. 6, 973--988 (2013; Zbl 1365.18008)], and constructs a twisted composition, and shows some compatibility between these two structures. These together with a general contractibility result of \textit{B. Keller} [in: Proceedings of the international congress of mathematicians (ICM), Madrid, Spain, August 22--30, 2006. Volume II: Invited lectures. Zürich: European Mathematical Society (EMS). 151--190 (2006; Zbl 1140.18008)] lead to a 2-operad acting on \(\mathcal{C}at_{dg}^{coh}(k)\).