Left proper \(E\)-dense monoids (Q1196805)

This paper links two classes of semigroups: the \(E\)-dense monoids studied by \textit{S. M. Margolis} and \textit{J. E. Pin} [J. Algebra 110, 277-297 (1987; Zbl 0625.20043)] and the left type-\(A\) monoids studied by \textit{J. B. Fountain} and his students [Q. J. Math., Oxf. II. Ser. 28, 285-300 (1977; Zbl 0377.20051)]. To describe the authors' results a few definitions are needed. A monoid \(S\) is said to be \(E\)-dense if its idempotents commute and for every element \(a\) of \(S\) there exists an element \(x\) in \(S\) such that \(ax\) and \(xa\) are idempotents. To define the class of left type-\(A\) semigroups recall first that two elements are said to be \({\mathcal R}^*\)-related if they are \({\mathcal R}\)-related in some oversemigroup. A monoid \(S\) is said to be left type-\(A\) if its idempotents commute, each element \(a\) is \({\mathcal R}^*\)-related to a (necessarily) unique idempotent \(a^ +\) in \(S\), and \(ae=(ae)^ +a\) for all idempotents \(e\). Left type-\(A\) monoids possess a minimum right cancellative congruence \(\sigma\): a left type-\(A\) monoid is said to be proper if \({\mathcal R}^*\) and \(\sigma\) intersect in the identity congruence. Finally, a monoid is said to be a left proper \(E\)-dense monoid if it is a proper, \(E\)-dense, left type-\(A\) monoid. The authors prove, using generalisations of the techniques of Margolis and Pin, that every \(E\)-dense, left type-\(A\) monoid has a proper, \(E\)- dense, left type-\(A\) cover by means of an idempotent separating homomorphism which preserves the \({\mathcal R}^*\)-relation, and that proper, \(E\)-dense, left type-\(A\) monoids are subsemigroups of semidirect products of groups and semilattices.