On the endomorphism monoid of a profinite semigroup (Q555197)

The author proves that the endomorphism monoid (respectively, the automorphism group) of a profinite semigroup is compact in the compact-open topology if and only if the semigroup admits a fundamental system of open fully invariant (respectively, characteristic) congruences (Theorem 4). Moreover, if the endomorphism monoid (the automorphism group) is compact, then it is profinite and the compact-open topology coincides with the topology of pointwise convergence. As a consequence, one obtains \textit{R. P. Hunter}'s result [Semigroup Forum 26, 125--137 (1983; Zbl 0503.22001)]: the endomorphism monoid of a finitely generated profinite semigroup is profinite. Another corollary is that every profinite semigroup admitting a fundamental system of open fully invariant congruences is Hopfian (Corollary 7). Also, in the case when the endomorphism monoid of a profinite semigroup is profinite, the author gives an explicit description of the monoid as an inverse limit (Theorem 9).