On cluster algebras arising from unpunctured surfaces. II (Q962138)

Let \(\mathbb{P}\) be a tropical subfield, and let \(\mathcal{F}\) be the field of rational functions in \(n\) variables with coefficients in the group ring \(\mathbb{QP}.\) A seed is defined to be \(\Sigma=\left( \mathbf{x} ,\mathbf{y},B\right) ,\) where \(\mathbf{x}\) is a transcendence basis of \(\mathcal{F}\) over \(\mathbb{QP}\) and is called the initial cluster, \(\mathbf{y}\;\)is an \(n\)-element subset of \(\mathbb{P}\), and \(B\) as an \(n\times n\) skew-symmetrizable integer matrix. This \(\Sigma\) will be called the initial seed. For \(1\leq k\leq n\) one can mutate \(\Sigma\) in direction \(k\), obtaining a new seed \(\Sigma^{\prime}=\left( \mathbf{x}^{\prime},\mathbf{y}^{\prime },B^{\prime}\right) ,\) where \(\mathbf{x}^{\prime}\) is \(\mathbf{x}\) with \(k^{\text{th}}\) term replaced using an exchange relation. The set of all \(\mathbf{x}^{\prime}\) obtained from \(\Sigma\) through a finite series of mutations is defined to be the set\ \(\mathcal{X\;}\)of all cluster variables. The cluster algebra is then defined to be \(\mathbb{ZP}\left[ \mathcal{X} \right] .\) Clearly, for all \(x\in\mathcal{X},\) \(x\) can be written as a rational function of the initial cluster, called the expansion in the initial seed; in fact the Laurent phenomenon states that \(x\) can be expressed by a Laurent polynomial. Furthermore, it is conjectured by Fomin and Zelevinsky that the coefficients of this Laurent polynomial are all non-negative. Let \(S\) be a connected orientable \(2\)-dimensional Riemann surface whose set \(M\) of marked points are found entirely on the boundary of \(S\). Such a surface is said to be unpunctured. Given a triangulation \(T\) of \(S\) one can construct \(\left( \mathbf{x}_{T},\mathbf{y}_{T},B_{T}\right) \) and thus a cluster algebra \(\mathcal{A}:=\mathcal{A}\left( \mathbf{x}_{T},\mathbf{y}_{T} ,B_{T}\right) .\) The cluster variables in \(\mathcal{A}\) correspond to arcs \(\gamma\) in \(\left( S,M\right) .\;\)In the work under review, for any \(x_{\gamma}\in\mathcal{X\;}\)the author provides a formula for the expansion in the initial seed. Despite pieces of the construction depending on the orientation of \(S\), the expansion itself does not. As a consequence of this formula, it is seen that the Laurent polynomials have non-negative coefficients, proving Fomin and Zelevinsky's conjecture for this class of cluster algebras. The main result above allows for other quick calculations. By substituting \(1\) for all the initial cluster variables, the Laurent polynomial for any \(x_{\gamma}\in\mathcal{X}\) gives rise to a polynomial in \(\mathbf{y}_{T},\) denoted \(F_{\gamma}\) and called the \(F\)-polynomial. A formula for \(F_{\gamma }\;\)is given; furthermore, it is shown that \(F_{\gamma}\) has constant term \(1\). Also, for any \(x_{\gamma}\;\)its Laurent expansion is homogeneous with respect to a grading given by standard basis vectors and the columns of \(B_{T}\). The degree of the Laurent expansion is called the \(g\)-vector of \(\gamma,\) denoted \(g_{\gamma}\). The authors develop a formula for \(g_{\gamma },\) expressed as a combination of standard basis vectors. For part I, cf. [\textit{H. Thomas} and the author, Int. Math. Res. Not. 2009, No. 17, 3160--3189 (2009; Zbl 1171.30019)].