Khovanov homology for links in $\#^r(S^2\times S^1)$

Abstract: We revisit Rozansky's construction of Khovanov homology for links in $S^2\times S^1$, extending it to define Khovanov homology $Kh(L)$ for links $L$ in $M^r=#^r(S^2\times S^1)$ for any $r$. The graded Euler characteristic of $Kh(L)$ can be used to recover WRT invariants at certain roots of unity, and also recovers the evaluation of $L$ in the skein module $\mathcal{S}(M^r)$ of Hoste and Przytycki when $L$ is null-homologous in $M^r$. The construction also allows for a clear path towards defining a Lee's homology $Kh'(L)$ and associated $s$-invariant for such $L$, which we will explore in an upcoming paper. We also give an equivalent construction for the Khovanov homology of the knotification of a link in $S^3$ and show directly that this is invariant under handle-slides, in the hope of lifting this version to give a stable homotopy type for such knotifications in a future paper.