On a general notion of a polynomial identity and codimensions

Abstract

Using the braided version of Lawvere's algebraic theories and Mac Lane's PROPs, we introduce polynomial identities for arbitrary algebraic structures in a braided monoidal category $C$ as well as their codimensions in the case when $C$ is linear over some field. The new cases include coalgebras, bialgebras, Hopf algebras, braided vector spaces, Yetter–Drinfel'd modules, etc. We find bases for polynomial identities and calculate codimensions in some important particular cases.