\(E^*\)-dense \(E\)-semigroups. (Q5907096)

A semigroup \(S\) with zero is \(E^*\)-dense (also called \(E^*\) inversive or \(0\)-inversive) if for every \(a\in S\), \(a\neq 0\), there exists \(x\in S\) such that \(ax\in E^*_S\) (the set of all non-zero idempotents of \(S\)). A semigroup \(S\) is an \(E\)-semigroup if \(E_S\) forms a subsemigroup of \(S\). In this paper zero-analogues of results on \(E\)-dense semigroups given by \textit{B. Weipoltshammer} [Commun. Algebra 32, No. 8, 2929-2948 (2004; Zbl 1069.20056)] are provided. After collecting some results on \(E^*\)-dense resp. \(E\)-semigroups with zero the concept of \(*\)-rectangular band is introduced: a semigroup \(S\) with zero is a \(*\)-rectangular band if \(a^2\neq 0\) for any \(a\in S\) and \(aba=a\) whenever \(ab\neq 0\) (\(a,b\in S\)). The main result of the paper characterizes \(E^*\)-dense semigroups \(S\) such that \(E_S\) forms a \(*\)-rectangular band. For example, \(S\) has this property if and only if \(W(e)\cap W(f)\neq\{0\}\) implies \(W(e)=W(f)\), \(e,f\in E^*_S\) (where \(W(e)=\{x\in S\mid x=xex\}\) is the set of all weak inverses of \(e\in E_S\)). Finally, generalized Rees matrix semigroups \(S\) with zero are studied with respect to the questions when: (a) \(S\) is \(E^*\)-dense with commuting idempotents, (b) \(S\) is an \(E^*\)-dense \(E\)-semigroup, (c) \(E^*_S\) is a \(*\)-rectangular band.