Semigroups of finite matrices (Q1328446)

In any compact topological semigroup \(S\), the monothetic subsemigroup \(\Gamma (s)= \overline {\{s, s^ 2, \dots\}}\) contains a unique idempotent \(e\), and \(M(S)\cap eSe= M(eSe)\) contains an idempotent \(f\). If \(S\subseteq \text{End } V\) where \(V\) is a finite dimensional real or complex vector space, then \(\text{rank } f\leq \text{rank } e\leq \text{rank } s\), and if \(\text{rank } s\) is minimal in the set \(\text{rank } S\), then \(\text{rank } f= \text{rank } e=\text{rank } s\) and thus \(e=f\). The real or complex Jordan decomposition plus the minimality of the rank yields \(se= es= s\). Thus \(s\in M(S)\) follows. Since the elements in \(M(S)\) do have minimal rank we have that \(M(S)= \text{rank}^{-1} \{\min \text{ rank } S\}\). If the ground field is real and \(S\) is convex, then the groups in the minimal ideal, being compact convex as linear retracts of the form \(eSe\), \(e\in E(M(S))\), are singleton (well known for all compact affine semigroups). If we fix an isomorphism \(V\cong \mathbb{R}^ n\) we may set \(V^ +\cong (\mathbb{R}^ +)^ n\) and call \(s\in \text{End } V\) positive if \(sV^ + \subseteq V^ +\). Suppose now that \(S\) is a compact semigroup of positive elements. The author notes that an idempotent \(e\in E(S)\) of rank \(m\) is a sum \(e= \sum_{j=1}^ m v_ j \otimes \omega_ j\) of positive rank one operators, \(v_ j\in V^ +\), \(\omega\in (V^ +)^*\), where \((V^ +)^*\) is the dual cone in \(V^ +\). The \(v_ j\) are linearly independent. If \(e\in E(M(S))\) then the group \(eSe\) is finite effectively permuting the \(v_ j\). If it acts transitively, then the minimal ideal of the convex hull of \(S\) consists of rank one operators. More details on the structure of the minimal ideal \(S\) are given. (The structure of completely simple matrix groups in general is known by Munn's work, see, e.g. \textit{A. H. Clifford} and \textit{G. B. Preston} [The algebraic theory of semigroups I (Am. Math. Soc. 1961; Zbl 0111.03403)]; cf. also \textit{K. H. Hofmann} and \textit{A. M. Skryago} [Semigroup Forum 28, 199-234 (1984; Zbl 0526.22002)]).