Which Kleene semigroups are finite? (Q1178693)

Given a semigroup \(S\). A subset \(L\) of \(S\) is recognizable if the syntactic congruence \(\equiv_ L\) of \(L\) has finitely many classes (\(x\equiv_ L y\) whenever \(uxv\in L\) iff \(uyv\in L\) for every \(u\), \(v\)). A subset \(L\) of \(S\) is rational if it is built from finite subsets of \(S\) by iteration of set union, product and plus operation (the product \(L_ 1L_ 2=\{uv;\;u\in L_ 1, v\in L_ 2\}\), the plus operation \((L_ 1)^ +\) is the subsemigroup generated by \(L_ 1\)). A semigroup is a Kleene semigroup if its rational and recognizable sets coincide. The main result of the paper is: For every Kleene semigroup \(S\) the set of idempotents in any \({\mathcal D}\)-class of \(S\) is recognizable. Using this fact and \textit{I. Simon}'s Theorem [see C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. A 290, 1081-1082 (1980; Zbl 0437.20044)], the author proves the following: 1) Let \(S\) be a Kleene semigroup which is either equidivisible, or a band of left-cancellative semigroups, or a band of Archimedean semigroups. Then \(S\) is finite iff it is periodic. 2) If \(S\) is a Kleene semigroup which is either a band of simple semigroups, or a band of nil semigroups, then \(S\) is finite.