McAlister semigroups (Q1265539)

For a positive integer \(n\), let \(\Sigma_n\) denote the alphabet consisting of letters \(x_0,x_1,\dots,x_{n-1}\). A triple \((\alpha,\beta,\gamma)\) of words over \(\Sigma_n\) is allowable if \(\alpha\) is a prefix of \(\beta\) and \(\gamma\) is a suffix of \(\beta\). Let \((\alpha,\beta,\gamma)\) and \((\alpha',\beta',\gamma')\) be allowable triples over \(\Sigma_n\). If there exist \(\delta,\delta'\in\Sigma_n^*\) with \(\delta\alpha'\gamma=\beta\) and \(\alpha'\gamma\delta'=\beta'\) then define \((\alpha,\beta,\gamma)\otimes(\alpha',\beta',\gamma')=(\delta\alpha,\delta\beta\delta',\gamma'\delta')\) else \((\alpha,\beta,\gamma)\otimes(\alpha',\beta',\gamma')=0\). If we set \((\alpha,\beta,\gamma)\otimes 0=0\otimes(\alpha,\beta,\gamma)=0=0\otimes 0\) for all allowable triples \((\alpha,\beta,\gamma)\) over \(\Sigma_n\), then \(\otimes\) is a binary operation on the set of all allowable triples over \(\Sigma_n\) with added \(0\). Let \(M_n\) be a groupoid on the set of all allowable triples over \(\Sigma_n\) with added \(0\) and with the operation \(\otimes\). The aim of the paper is to give properties of \(M_n\). It is proved that \(M_n\) is a combinatorial, completely semisimple, \(0\)-\(E\)-unitary inverse semigroup that it is not strict inverse and all \(\mathcal D\)-classes of \(M_n\) are finite. The lattice of all two-sided ideals of \(M_n\) is isomorphic to the lattice of all two-sided ideals of a free semigroup over an \(n\)-element set with added zero. Further, \(M_n\) divides the square power of the polycyclic monoid \(P_n\) and \(M_n\) is isomorphic to the inverse semigroup over \(\{x_0,x_1,\dots,x_{n-1}\}\) with the presentation identities \(x_i^{-1}x_j=x_ix_j^{-1}=0\) for all \(i\neq j\). The monoid \(M_1\) is isomorphic to a free inverse semigroup with one generator and thus \(M_n\) are natural generalizations of a free inverse semigroup with one generator. The monoids \(M_n\) for positive integers \(n\) were first defined by \textit{D. B. McAlister} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 182, 85-117 (1973; Zbl 0273.20046)].