Algebras defined by equations (Q2174535)

The authors begin by considering a number of well-known classes of semigroups that are closed under \(\mathrm{H}\) (homomorphic images) and \(\mathrm{P}\) (products) and then providing sets of simultaneous equations that define them. Examples include regular semigroups (\( axa = a\), more formally, \((\forall a)(\exists x): axa = a\)) and simple semigroups (\((\forall a, b)(\exists x, y): a = xby\)), but not bisimple semigroups. Denoting by \(\mathrm{E}\) closure under existential embeddings, they show that in general a class is the class of models of some equation systems if and only if it is closed under \(\mathrm{E}\), \(\mathrm{H}\) and \(\mathrm{P}\). They use this structure to provide equational descriptions of such classes of regular semigroups and compare it with the e-varieties of [\textit{T. E. Hall}, Bull. Aust. Math. Soc. 40, No. 1, 59--77 (1989; Zbl 0666.20028)]. Concrete sets of equations are provided for well-known classes such as inverse semigroups. Fiinally, they consider the problem of finding all the equations satisfied by a class defined by a given set of equations.