Categorical diagonalization and $p$-cells

Abstract

In the Iwahori-Hecke algebra, the full twist acts on cell modules by a scalar, and the half twist acts by a scalar and an involution. A categorification of this statement, describing the action of the half and full twist Rouquier complexes on the Hecke category, was conjectured by Elias-Hogancamp, and proven in type $A$. In this paper we make analogous conjectures for the $p$-canonical basis, and the Hecke category in characteristic $p$. We prove the categorified conjecture in type $C_2$, where the situation is already interesting. The decategorified conjecture is confirmed by computer in rank at most 6; information is found in the appendix, written by Joel Gibson.