Recent developments in inverse semigroup theory (Q2297051)

This very informative paper surveys recent developments of the inverse semigroup theory, with the focus on Boolean inverse semigroups, pseudogroups and on inverse semigroups that are used to construct \(C^*\)-algebras with rich structure and extreme properties. Elements \(a\), \(b\) of an inverse semigroup \(S\) are said to be compatible if \(ab^{-1}\) and \(a^{-1}b\) are both idempotents. The natural partial order on an inverse semigroup is defined by \(a\leq b\) if \(a=be\) for some idempotent \(e\). A pseudogroup is an inverse semigroup that has arbitrary compatible joins (with respect to the natural partial order) and where multiplication distributes over such joins. An illustrative example of a pseudogroup is the pseudogroup of all homeomorphisms between open sets of a topological space. Idempotents of a pseudogroup form a frame, a complete and infinitely distributive lattice. Pseudogroups can thus be thought about as non-commutative generalization of frames. Open sets of a topological space form a frame, but not every frame so arises. General frames correspond to locales, which can be looked at as pointless analogues of spaces, see [\textit{P. T. Johnstone}, Stone spaces. Cambridge etc.: Cambridge University Press. (1982; Zbl 0499.54001)]. \textit{P. Resende} [Adv. Math. 208, No. 1, 147--209 (2007; Zbl 1116.06014)] established a duality between pseudogroups and étale localic groupoids, the latter being non-commutative generalization of locales. A Boolean inverse semigroup is an inverse semigroup whose idempotents form a Boolean algebra and which has all joins of compatible pairs of elements. In a series of papers by the author [ J. Aust. Math. Soc. 88, No. 3, 385--404 (2010; Zbl 1209.20062); Int. J. Algebra Comput. 22, No. 6, 1250058, 47 p. (2012; Zbl 1273.22006)] the Stone dualilty between Boolean algebras and Boolean spaces has been extended to a duality between Boolean inverse semigroups and so called Boolean groupoids. The latter are étale topological groupoids whose space of identities is a Boolean space. This duality has been further extended and related with Resende's work [loc. cit.] in the papers [\textit{M. V. Lawson} and \textit{D. H. Lenz}, Adv. Math. 244, 117--170 (2013; Zbl 1311.20059);\textit{G. Kudryavtseva} and \textit{M. V. Lawson}, Adv. Math. 311, 378--468 (2017; Zbl 1423.06041)]. The paper under review provides an account of these dualities and surveys various structure aspects and properties of pseudogroups and Boolean inverse semigroups.