Odd Khovanov homology and higher representation theory

We introduce a super analogue of \mathfrak{gl}_{2} -foams and use it to define an invariant of oriented tangles, shown to coincide with odd Khovanov homology when restricted to links. We then define a supercategorification of the q -Schur algebra of level 2 and realize our construction as a certain super-2-representation. This gives a representation-theoretic construction of odd Khovanov homology, where signs naturally arise as a byproduct of the super-2-categorical structure. In the process, we define a tensor product for chain complexes in super-2-categories, suitably compatible with homotopies. This could be of independent interest.

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Publication Details

Journal
Quantum Topology
Published
2026-09-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4171/qt/266
Primary Topic
Homotopy and Cohomology in Algebraic Topology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Odd Khovanov homology and higher representation theory

Pedro Vaz, Léo Schelstraete
Quantum Topology
Homotopy and Cohomology in Algebraic Topology
article

Odd Khovanov homology and higher representation theory

Pedro Vaz, Léo Schelstraete
article en

Abstract

We introduce a super analogue of \mathfrak{gl}_{2} -foams and use it to define an invariant of oriented tangles, shown to coincide with odd Khovanov homology when restricted to links. We then define a supercategorification of the q -Schur algebra of level 2 and realize our construction as a certain super-2-representation. This gives a representation-theoretic construction of odd Khovanov homology, where signs naturally arise as a byproduct of the super-2-categorical structure. In the process, we define a tensor product for chain complexes in super-2-categories, suitably compatible with homotopies. This could be of independent interest.

Quantum Topology
Max Planck Institute for Mathematics (DE), UCLouvain (BE)
Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS
Openalex Percentile: Top 97%
Homotopy and Cohomology in Algebraic Topology
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