Factoriality and class groups of cluster algebras

Abstract: Locally acyclic cluster algebras are Krull domains. Hence their factorization theory is determined by their (divisor) class group and the set of classes containing height-1 prime ideals. Motivated by this, we investigate class groups of cluster algebras. We show that any cluster algebra that is a Krull domain has a finitely generated free abelian class group, and that every class contains infinitely many height-$1$ prime ideals. For a cluster algebra associated to an acyclic seed, we give an explicit description of the class group in terms of the initial exchange matrix. As a corollary, we reprove and extend a classification of factoriality for cluster algebras of Dynkin type. In the acyclic case, we prove the sufficiency of necessary conditions for factoriality given by Geiss--Leclerc--Schr\"oer.