Character theory of monoids over an arbitrary field. (Q2344836)

Two elements of a finite monoid \(M\) are character equivalent over a field \(K\) iff every irreducible character of \(M\) over \(K\) agrees on these elements. Known results about character equivalence for the field of complex numbers are generalized for an arbitrary field \(K\); it is proved that the characters of inequivalent irreducible representations of a finite monoid over an arbitrary field are non-zero, distinct and linearly independent; from this follows a quick proof that the characteristic function of a regular cyclic language is a virtual character of the free monoid.