The diameter of type D associahedra and the non-leaving-face property

Abstract

Generalized associahedra were introduced by S. Fomin and A. Zelevinsky in connection to finite type cluster algebras. Following recent work of L. Pournin in types $A$ and $B$, this paper focuses on geodesic properties of generalized associahedra. We prove that the graph diameter of the $n$-dimensional associahedron of type $D$ is precisely $2n-2$ for all $n$ greater than $1$. Furthermore, we show that all type $BCD$ associahedra have the non-leaving-face property, that is, any geodesic connecting two vertices in the graph of the polytope stays in the minimal face containing both. This property was already proven by D. Sleator, R. Tarjan and W. Thurston for associahedra of type $A$. In contrast, we present relevant examples related to the associahedron that do not always satisfy this property.