A categorification of the square root of -1

Abstract

We give a graphical calculus for a monoidal DG category $\cal{I}$ whose Grothendieck group is isomorphic to the ring $\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{-1}]$. We construct a categorical action of $\cal{I}$ which lifts the action of $\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{-1}]$ on $\mathbb{Z}^2$.