The finite basis problem for infinite involution semigroups of triangular \(2 \times 2\) matrices (Q2362753)

Any variety of algebras of some type \(\tau\) can be defined by identities and a variety is said to be finitely based if it can be defined by a finite set of identities. An algebra \(A\) is finitely based if it generates a finitely based variety \(\operatorname{var}A\). The same algebra may be finitely based or not depending on the signature considered. Examples can be found within semigroups with an involution, which may de taken as having type (2) or type (2,1) (see [\textit{M. Jackson} and \textit{M. Volkov}, Lect. Notes Comput. Sci. 6300, 414--443 (2010; Zbl 1287.08010); \textit{J. R. Li} and \textit{Y. F. Luo}, Algebra Univers. 65, No. 4, 353--362 (2011; Zbl 1230.20057); \textit{W. T. Zhang} and \textit{Y. F. Luo}, Bull. Aust. Math. Soc. 84, No. 3, 484--491 (2011; Zbl 1243.20072)]). This paper studies two infinite monoids with an involution, namely the monoid of all \(n\times n\) upper triangular matrices \(T_n(F)\) over a field \(F\) of characteristic 0 and its submonoid \(UT_n(F)\) of all elements with either 0 or 1 in the first diagonal. The involution taken is the skew transposition, that is the reflection over the secondary diagonal. Following work presented in [\textit{K. Auinger} et al., Algebra Univers. 74, No. 3--4, 333--350 (2015; Zbl 1332.20056)], \textit{M. V. Volkov} [in: Semigroups, algebras and operator theory. Selected papers of the conference, ICSAOT-2014, Kochi, India, February 26--28, 2014. New Delhi: Springer. 27--38 (2015; Zbl 1334.20047)] proved that for \(n=3\) and \(F\) the field of real numbers, both \(T_n(F)\) and \(UT_n(F)\) are finitely based as semigroups and as semigroups with involution, and posed the question for an arbitrary \(n\). In this paper, the authors look at the case \(n=2\) for a field with characteristic 0. First, they present a sufficient condition to prove the nonfinitely based property, and then apply it to conclude that the monoids with involution \(T_2(F)\) and \(UT_2(F)\) are nonfinitely based. They also show that any involution monoid variety between \(\operatorname{var}UT_2(F)\) and \(\operatorname{var}T_2(F)\) is nonfinitely based, and there is a continuum of such varieties.