The rank of the inverse semigroup of partial automorphisms on a finite fence (Q2663122)

A fence or a zigzag poset is a set along with a special `zig-zag order'. It is known that the set of all partial automorphisms on a finite fence forms an inverse semigroup. In this article, the authors calculate the rank of the semigroup \(\mathscr{F}\mathscr{I}_n\) of all order preserving partial injections on an \(n\)-element fence, when \(n\) is odd. This is the main result of the article (Theorem 1). In this process, they also provide a minimal generating set for the semigroup \(\mathscr{F}\mathscr{I}_n\).