A theorem on accepted elasticity in certain local arithmetical congruence monoids. (Q1032520)

The authors consider arithmetical congruence monoids \(M=M(a,b)=\{1\}\cup\{a+kb:k=0,1,2,\dots\}\) in the case when \(b\mid a^2-a\) and \((a,b)\) is a prime power. For a non-unit \(x\in M\) let \(l(x)\), \(L(x)\), denote the smallest, resp. the largest length of a factorization of \(x\) into irreducibles. The ratio \(\rho(x)=L(x)/l(x)\) is called the elasticity of \(x\), and the elasticity of \(M(a,b)\) is defined by \(\rho(M(a,b))=\sup_x\{\rho(x)\}\). The main result of the paper gives a characterization of pairs \(a,b\) for which there exists \(x\in M(a,b)\) with \(\rho(x)=\rho(M(a,b))\). It has been shown earlier by the authors [Colloq. Math. 108, No. 1, 105-118 (2007; Zbl 1142.20038)] that in the case \((a,b)=1\) the last condition is always satisfied.