A general approach to Heisenberg categorification via wreath product algebras

Abstract: We associate a monoidal category $\mathcal{H}_B$, defined in terms of planar diagrams, to any graded Frobenius superalgebra $B$. This category acts naturally on modules over the wreath product algebras associated to $B$. To $B$ we also associate a (quantum) lattice Heisenberg algebra $\mathfrak{h}_B$. We show that, provided $B$ is not concentrated in degree zero, the Grothendieck group of $\mathcal{H}_B$ is isomorphic, as an algebra, to $\mathfrak{h}_B$. For specific choices of Frobenius algebra $B$, we recover existing results, including those of Khovanov and Cautis--Licata. We also prove that certain morphism spaces in the category $\mathcal{H}_B$ contain generalizations of the degenerate affine Hecke algebra. Specializing $B$, this proves an open conjecture of Cautis--Licata.