Minimal spectrum and the radical of Chinese algebras. (Q368656)

A finite monoid \(M=\{a_1,a_2,a_3,\ldots,a_n\}\) which satisfies \(a_ka_ia_j=a_ka_ja_i=a_ja_ka_i\) for \(i\leq j\leq k\) is called the \textit{Chinese monoid of rank} \(n\) and the corresponding monoid algebra \(K[M]\) over a field \(K\) a \textit{Chinese algebra of rank} \(n\). The authors show that every minimal prime ideal of such an algebra is generated by a finite set of elements of the form \(x-y\) where \(x\) and \(y\) are words in the generators \(a_1,a_2,a_3,\ldots,a_n\) both of length \(2\) or both of length \(3\). A constructive way of finding such minimal generating sets is given. This enables the authors to show that the Jacobson radical of \(K[M]\) is nilpotent and when the rank is greater than \(2\), that it is not finitely generated. Investigating these monoids and algebras is part of a general program to study finitely presented algebras defined by homogeneous semigroup presentations. Moreover, these investigations also have an algebraic combinatorial aspect to them since the Chinese monoid, like the plactic monoid, is related to Young tableaux.