Functoriality of Odd and Generalized Khovanov Homology in ${\mathbb{R}}^3\times I$

Abstract

We extend the generalized Khovanov bracket to smooth link cobordisms in ${\mathbb{R}}^3\times I$ and prove that the resulting theory is functorial up to global invertible scalars. The generalized Khovanov bracket can be specialized to both even and odd Khovanov homology. Particularly by setting $\pi =-1$, we obtain that odd Khovanov homology is functorial up to sign. We end by showing that odd Khovanov homology is not functorial under smooth link cobordisms in $S^3\times I$.

53 pages, many figures in black and white; Introduced supergrading to simplify arguments