From green mutation to $\mathrm{X}$-evolution: flows and foliations on cluster complexes

Abstract

For any point $\mathrm{X}$ in the cluster complex $\mathrm{Cpx}(\mathcal{C})$ of a 2-Calabi-Yau category $\mathcal{C}$, we introduce $\mathrm{X}$-evolution flow on $\mathrm{Cpx}(\mathcal{C})$. We show that such a flow induces a piecewise linear one-dimensional $\mathrm{X}$-foliation with two singularities, the unique sink $\mathrm{X}$ and the unique source $\mathrm{X}[1]$. Moreover, we show that evolution flows on cluster complexes are continuous refinement/generalization of green mutations on cluster exchange graphs. For the cluster category of a Dynkin or Euclidean quiver $Q$, we prove that the $\mathrm{X}$-foliation is compact or semi-compact, for various choices of $\mathrm{X}$. As an application, we show that $\mathrm{Cpx}(\mathcal{C})$ is spherical (Dynkin case) or contractible (Euclidean case). As a byproduct, we show that the fundamental group of the cluster exchange graph of $Q$ is generated by squares and pentagons.