Bracelets bases are theta bases

Abstract

The skein algebra of a marked surface, possibly with punctures, admits the basis of (tagged) bracelet elements constructed by Fock-Goncharov and Musiker-Schiffler-Williams. As a cluster algebra, it also admits the theta basis of Gross-Hacking-Keel-Kontsevich, quantized by Davison-Mandel. We show that these two bases coincide (with a caveat for notched arcs in once-punctured tori). In unpunctured cases, one may consider the quantum skein algebra. We show that the quantized bases also coincide. Even for cases with punctures, we define quantum bracelets for the cluster algebras with coefficients, and we prove that these are again theta functions. On the corresponding cluster Poisson varieties (parameterizing framed $PGL_2$-local systems), we prove in general that the canonical coordinates of Fock-Goncharov, quantized by Bonahon-Wong and Allegretti-Kim, coincide with the associated (quantum) theta functions. Long-standing conjectures on strong positivity and atomicity follow as corollaries. Of potentially independent interest, we examine the behavior of cluster scattering diagrams under folding.