On 2-absorbing commutative semigroups and their applications to rings. (Q1941740)

Let \(R\) be a commutative ring and \(n\) a positive integer. \(R\) is called \(n\)-absorbing if for any \(n+1\) principal ideals of \(R\) whose product is 0 there are \(n\) ideals among them whose product is also 0; \(R\) is called strongly \(n\)-absorbing if this condition holds for arbitrary ideals of \(R\) (see \textit{A. Badawi} [Bull. Aust. Math. Soc. 75, No. 3, 417-429 (2007; Zbl 1120.13004)] and \textit{D. F. Anderson} and \textit{A. Badawi} [Commun. Algebra 39, No. 5, 1646-1672 (2011; Zbl 1232.13001)]). In the paper under review the authors study the corresponding notions for commutative multiplicative semigroups with 0, mainly in the case \(n=2\). They give characterizations for strongly 2-absorbing semigroups and provide examples showing that 2-absorbing semigroups are not necessarily strongly 2-absorbing, unlike the case of 2-absorbing rings. A sufficient condition for a graded ring to be 2-absorbing is presented. Finally, the authors prove that an \(n\)-absorbing ring \(R\) is strongly \(n\)-absorbing if the additive group of \(R\) is torsion-free, proving thus a special case of a conjecture of Anderson and Badawi.