Length-factoriality in commutative monoids and integral domains (Q2664483)

Let \(M\) be an atomic monoid, \(U(M)\) its set of units and \(x\in M\setminus U(M)\), if no two distinct factorizations of \(x\) with the same length exist we say that \(M\) is legth-factorial. Two characterizations of length-factorial monoids are given: the first one using integral independent sets and the second one using the kernel of the map \(\pi:Z(M)\to M_{\mathrm{red}}\) where \(Z\) is the set of factorizations and \(M_{\mathrm{red}}\) is the reduced monoid of \(M\). The authors also give a characterization using the equal catenary degree. Let \((z,z')\) be an element of \(\ker\pi\), if \(z\) and \(z'\) have different length we say that \((z,z')\) is an unbalanced factorization relation. In this context, the notion of purely long (short) atom and the PLS property appears. The authors prove that every proper length-factorial monoid has the PLS property. Finally, they construct a Dedekin domain which verifies some conditions and integral domains which not satisfy the PLS property.