The sl_3 web algebra

Abstract

In this paper we use Kuperberg's $\mathfrak{sl}_3$-webs and Khovanov's $\mathfrak{sl}_3$-foams to define a new algebra $K^S$, which we call the $\mathfrak{sl}_3$-web algebra. It is the $\mathfrak{sl}_3$ analogue of Khovanov's arc algebra. We prove that $K^S$ is a graded symmetric Frobenius algebra. Furthermore, we categorify an instance of $q$-skew Howe duality, which allows us to prove that $K^S$ is Morita equivalent to a certain cyclotomic KLR-algebra of level 3. This allows us to determine the split Grothendieck group $K^{\oplus}_0(\mathcal{W}^S)_{\mathbb{Q}(q)}$, to show that its center is isomorphic to the cohomology ring of a certain Spaltenstein variety, and to prove that $K^S$ is a graded cellular algebra.