Factorization problems in semigroups (Q584428)

The paper under review is motivated by the fact that several results concerning arithmetical characterizations of algebraic number fields with given class group are valid in semigroups with divisor theory. Let S and T be multiplicative, commutative, (associate-) reduced semigroups with identity 1, in which every element has a factorization into irreducibles. The authors define the following generalization of a divisor theory. A homomorphism \(\partial: S\to T\) is called divisor homomorphism if (1) \(a,b\in S\), \(\partial (a)| \partial (b)\Rightarrow a| b\); (2) \(\alpha\in T\Rightarrow \exists a\in S:\) \(\alpha\) \(| \partial (a)\); (3) \(a,b\in S\), \(\alpha\in T\), \(\partial (a)=\alpha \partial (b)\Rightarrow \alpha \in \partial (S)\). If T satisfies nice arithmetical properties, \(\partial\) transfers these from T to S as it is proved for the following properties V(m) and E(n) in Theorems 1 and 2. S satisfies V(m) if there exists a finite \(\mu\) (m) such that for any factorizations \(u_ 1...u_ j=v_ 1...v_ k\) (into irreducibles) \(j\leq m\) implies \(k\leq \mu (m)\). E(n) is a chain property with distances \(\leq n\) in the factorization semigroup of S. The results are applied to the multiplicative semigroups in certain orders \({\mathcal O}\) of algebraic number fields. The authors verify arithmetical properties in the semigroup of invertible ideals of \({\mathcal O}\) and transfer them to \({\mathcal O}\).