Cluster algebras of type \(D_4\), tropical planes, and the positive tropical Grassmannian

  • Sarah B. Brodsky
  • Cesar Ceballos
  • Jean-Philippe Labbé
Original Paper
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Abstract

We show that the number of combinatorial types of clusters of type \(D_4\) modulo reflection-rotation is exactly equal to the number of combinatorial types of generic tropical planes in \(\mathbb {TP}^5\). This follows from a result of Sturmfels and Speyer which classifies these generic tropical planes into seven combinatorial classes using a detailed study of the tropical Grassmannian \({{\mathrm{Gr}}}(3,6)\). Speyer and Williams show that the positive part \({{\mathrm{Gr}}}^+(3,6)\) of this tropical Grassmannian is combinatorially equivalent to a small coarsening of the cluster fan of type \(D_4\). We provide a structural bijection between the rays of \({{\mathrm{Gr}}}^+(3,6)\) and the almost positive roots of type \(D_4\) which makes this connection more precise. This bijection allows us to use the pseudotriangulations model of the cluster algebra of type \(D_4\) to describe the equivalence of “positive” generic tropical planes in \(\mathbb {TP}^5\), giving a combinatorial model which characterizes the combinatorial types of generic tropical planes using automorphisms of pseudotriangulations of the octogon.

Keywords

Tropical planes Grassmannian Pseudotriangulations Cluster complex Computational methods 

Mathematics Subject Classification

Primary 14T05 Secondary 14N10 52C30 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to York University for hosting visits of the first and third authors. We also thank Hugh Thomas for helpful discussions.

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Copyright information

© The Managing Editors 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of MathematicsTechnische Universität BerlinBerlinGermany
  2. 2.Faculty of MathematicsUniversity of ViennaViennaAustria
  3. 3.Einstein Institute of MathematicsHebrew University of JerusalemJerusalemIsrael

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