Finite semigroup varieties of the form V*D (Q2266068)

All semigroups in this review are finite and a ''variety'' (or ''pseudovariety'') of semigroups (or monoids) is a family closed under finite direct products and division. Intrinsically of interest, varieties also play an important role, well documented in this article, in the study of recognizable languages. The variety D in the title consists of all ''definite'' semigroups: ideal extensions of right zero by nilpotent semigroups; V stands for any variety of monoids and V*D is the semigroup variety generated by subdirect products of monoids in V with semigroups in D. (The apparent lack of duality is illusory, since \(V*D=V*LI\), where LI is the variety of ''generalized definite'' semigroups: extensions of rectangular bands by nilpotent semigroups.) Varieties of this form have appeared before in various places. Their importance is underlined by the author's proof here that every level in the ''dot-depth'' hierarchy of Brzozowski corresponds to such a variety. For example as was already known, corresponding to dot-depth one V is the variety J of \({\mathcal J}\)-trivial monoids. For J*D, \textit{R. Knast} [RAIRO, Inf. Théor. 17, 321-330 (1983; Zbl 0522.68063)] has solved the ''membership problem'' - that of effectively deciding whether a given semigroup belongs to the variety. The author conjectures that in general, if V has soluble membership problem then so does V*D, offering various other special cases as evidence.