Cluster structures on quantum coordinate rings (Q1950459)

Some algebras carry the structure of a cluster algebra. Fomin and Zelevinsky have introduced cluster algebras to study Lusztig's canonical bases, but various authors have found, studied and appreciated cluster structures in many areas of mathematics. A salient example of a cluster algebra is the following: Let \(\mathfrak{g}=\mathfrak{n}\oplus\mathfrak{h}\oplus\mathfrak{n}_{-}\) be a Kac-Moody Lie algebra and let \(N\) be the unipotent group attached to \(\mathfrak{n}\). The same authors, Geiß-Leclerc-Schröer, have shown in [Invent. Math. 165, No. 3, 589--632 (2006; Zbl 1167.16009)] that the coordinate ring \(\mathbb{C}[N]\) carries the structure of a cluster algebra. More generally, for every Weyl group element \(w\) the coordinate ring \(\mathbb{C}[N(w)]\) becomes a cluster algebra. To establish the cluster structure, Geiß-Leclerc-Schröer proved that \(\mathbb{C}[N(w)]\) is isomorphic to the cluster algebra \(\mathcal{A}(\mathcal{C}_w)\) associated with a certain category of modules over the preprojective algebra. In this context, a crux is the duality between \(\mathbb{C}[N]\) and the universal enveloping algebra \(U(\mathfrak{n})\) of \(\mathfrak{n}\). The aim of this article is to quantise the result. The authors show that a certain quantisation of \(\mathcal{A}(\mathcal{C}_w)\) -- called \(A_q(\mathfrak{n}(w))\) -- is a quantum cluster algebra in the sense of Berenstein-Zelevinsky. Again the authors utilise tools from representation theory of the preprojective algebra. Here, the quantisation \(\mathcal{A}(\mathcal{C}_w) \to A_q(\mathfrak{n}(w))\) emerges from the quantisation \(U(\mathfrak{n})\to U_q(\mathfrak{n})\) introduced by Drinfeld-Jimbo. A cluster algebra does not admit a quantisation in general, and if it exists, it is not necessarily unique. So Geiß-Leclerc-Schröer's result is remarkable for two reasons. First of all, it is noteworthy that homological considerations yield quantisations. (For example, the dimensions of certain homomorphism spaces describe q-commutativity relations among certain quantum cluster variables.) Secondly, it is surprising that this homologically constructed quantisation agrees with Drinfeld-Jimbo's. The result is important, because it is the first step to understand the relation between cluster algebras and canonical bases. Although canonical bases have motivated the theory of cluster algebras, only now we can formulate a precise conjecture. Conjecture 12.9 is a relation between the quantum cluster monomials in \(A_q(\mathfrak{n}(w))\)) and the dual of Lusztig's canonical basis in \(U_q(\mathfrak{n})\).