Puiseux monoids and transfer homomorphisms (Q1799011)

Let $\mathbb{Q}$ denote the set of rational numbers, and let $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge 0}$ be the set of nonnegative rational numbers. A Puiseux monoid is a submonoid of $\mathbb{Q}_{\ge_0}$, considering addition as its binary operation. This family includes the set of all numerical semigroups, that is, submonoids of $(\mathbb{N}_0,+)$ with finite complement in $\mathbb{N}_0$ (the set of nonnegative integers). \par The manuscript under review studies which Puiseux monoids are in one of the relevant families of monoids used traditionally in the study of nonunique factoriazation invariants: Krull monoids, C-monoids, primary monoids, strongly primary monoids. The author also gives examples of Puiseux monoids that do not lie in any of these families. Special attention is given to determine when there exists a transfer homomorphism from a Puiseux monoid to a monoid in these families. This may be used to understand how similar is the behavior of nonunique factorization invariants in Puiseux monoids compared to these well studied families. \par The author starts by characterizing homomorphisms between Puiseux monoids, showing that the only possible morphisms are multiplication by a rational number. He gives a family of Puiseux monoids having $\mathbb{Z}$ as automorphism group. \par Then the author focuses on when there is a transfer homomorphism from a Puiseux monoid to a finitely generated monoid (these monoids are called transfer finite in the paper). It turns out that the only Puiseux monoids with this property are numerical semigroups. \par The author next shows that every nontrivial Puiseux monoid is primary, and that every finitely generated Puiseux monoid is strongly primary. He gives examples of Puiseux monoids that are atomic but not strongly primary, and also non-finitely generated Puiseux monoids that are strongly primary. \par The only Puiseux monoids that are Krull are those that are generated by a single element. Moreover, if there is a transfer homomorphism from a Puiseux monoid to a block monoid (these monoids are called transfer Krull by the author), then this Puiseux monoid must be $(\mathbb{N}_0,+)$. \par Finally the author proves that the only Puiseux monoids that are C-monoids are those isomorphic to a numerical semigroup. \par The manuscript contains many examples and algebraic motivations for the definitions given. Though not stated in the manuscript, the monoids under study are all cancellative.