Para construction for double categories

Abstract

We introduce Para and coPara double categories for double categories. They rely on a horizontal action $\crta\ot$ of a horizontally monoidal double category $\Mm$ on a double category $\Dd$. We prove a series of properties, most importantly, we characterize monoidality of $\coPara_\Mm(\Dd)$ in the way that it extends monoidality of $\Dd$ as: lax monoidality of the action $\crta\ot$; bistrong commutativity of $\crta\ot$; and purely central premonoidality of $\coPara_\Mm(\Dd)$.