The uniqueness of braidings on the monoidal category of non-commutative descent data

Abstract

Let $A$ be an algebra over a commutative ring $k$. It is known that the categories of non-commutative descent data, of comodules over the Sweedler canonical coring, of right $A$-modules with a flat connection are isomorphic as braided monoidal categories to the center of the category of $A$-bimodules. We prove that the braiding on these categories is unique if there exists a $k$-linear unitary map $E : A \to Z(A)$. This condition is satisfied if $k$ is a field or $A$ is a commutative or a separable algebra.