Epimorphism surjectivity in varieties of Heyting algebras (Q2195632)

The paper studies the varieties of Heyting algebras which have (or have not) the epimorphism surjectivity (ES) property. A homomorphism \(f : \mathbf{A} \to \mathbf{B}\) is said to be almost onto if there is a finite subset \(C \subseteq B\) such that \(f[A] \cup C\) generates \(\mathbf{B}\). The weak ES property means that almost onto epimorphisms are surjective, and ES is equivalent to that the corresponding logic having the finite Beth property. It is shown that for any positive natural number \(n\), every variety of Heyting algebras whose members have depth at most \(n\), has surjective epimorphisms. Denote by \(\mathbf{RN}\) the Rieger-Nishimura algebra, that is a free single generated Heyting algebra, and let \(\mathbb{V}(\mathbf{RN})\) be a variety generated by \(\mathbf{RN}\). It is proven that there is a continuum of locally finite subvarieties of \(\mathbb{V}(\mathbf{RN})\) lacking the ES property. Moreover, there is a continuum of varieties lacking ES property and members of which have the width at most 2. Let \(\mathbf{KG}\) be the Kuznetsov-Gerchiu variety, that is a variety of Heyting algebras generated by finite linear sums of single generated algebras. Then, the following holds: each subvariety of \(\mathbf{KG}\) which enjoys the ES property is locally finite. In addition, the criterion for subvarieties of \(\mathbf{KG}\) to have the ES property is given. The obtained results can be extended to Brouwerian algebras (implicative lattices). Reviewer's remark: The definition of sum of Heyting algebras given in this paper is different from the definition in the paper [Sov. Math., Dokl. 11, 1614--1619 (1970; Zbl 0219.02014); translation from Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 195, 1029--1032 (1970)] by \textit{A. V. Kuznetsov} and \textit{V. Ya. Gerchiu}. Nevertheless, for finite sums, these two classes coincide.