The center of the category of bimodules and descent data for non-commutative rings

Let $A$ be an algebra over a commutative ring $k$. We compute the center of the category of $A$-bimodules. There are six isomorphic descriptions: the center equals the weak center, and can be described as categories of noncommutative descent data, comodules over the Sweedler canonical $A$-coring, Yetter-Drinfeld type modules or modules with a flat connection from noncommutative differential geometry. All six isomorphic categories are braided monoidal categories: in particular, the category of comodules over the Sweedler canonical $A$-coring $A \ot A$ is braided monoidal. We provide several applications: for instance, if $A$ is finitely generated projective over $k$ then the category of left End_k(A)$-modules is braided monoidal and we give an explicit description of the braiding in terms of the finite dual basis of $A$. As another application, new families of solutions for the quantum Yang-Baxter equation are constructed: they are canonical maps $\Omega$ associated to any right comodule over the Sweedler canonical coring $A \ot A$ and satisfy the condition $\Omega^3 = \Omega$. Explicit examples are provided.