On certain two generator monoids (Q2367895)

The author describes a remarkably effective and simple method for embedding a given compact semigroup into a compact monoid which can often be chosen so as to have a small number of generators. Let \(S\) and \(A\) be compact topological monoids, \(| A|\) the underlying space of \(A\), and \(\tau:A\to S\) a continuous function preserving identity elements. Let \(R=| A|\times S\times | A|\) be the topological semigroup with multiplication \((a,s,b)(a',s',b')=(a,s\tau(ba)s',b')\); then form the sum space \(S[A,\tau]= A\dot\cup R\) which will be a topological monoid with the given multiplications on \(A\) and \(R\) and with \(a'(a,s,b)= (aa',s,b)\) and \((a,s,b)b'=(a,s,bb')\). The function \(s\mapsto (1_ A,s,1_ A)\mapsto S\to S[A,\tau]\) is an embedding. If \(\tau\) has dense image, then \(S[A,\tau]\) is topologically generated by \(A\dot\cup\{(1_ A,1_ S,1_ A)\}\). Now let \(S\) be any compact metric topological semigroup and \(G\) an infinite compact monothetic zero dimensional group. Then the underlying space of \(G\) is a Cantor set and thus there is a surjective continuous function \(\tau:G\to S\) respecting identity elements. Then \((S\dot\cup\{1_ S\})[G,\tau]\) is a two generator compact monoid containing a copy of \(S\) and having the same dimension as \(S\). If \(S\) is any metric compact group and \(G\) as above, then \(S[G,\tau]\) is a two generator monoid with a copy of \(S\) as a maximal group in the minimal ideal. It is then a quotient of the free compact two generator monoid, and, as an interesting consequence, \(S\) is a quotient of a compact group topologically and algebraically isomorphic to a maximal subgroup of the minimal ideal of the free compact two generator monoid (which must then be rather big and rather free).