The group of self-distributivity is bi-orderable (Q5935731)

The self-distributivity group \(G_{LD}\) in some sense is a generalization of Artin's braid group \(B_\infty\): the group \(G_{LD}\) is defined not by a set of linearly ordered generators like the group \(B_\infty\), but by a `tree' of generators indexed by binary numbers [see the author, (*) Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 345, No. 1, 115-150 (1994; Zbl 0837.20048), Adv. Math. 125, No. 2, 200-235 (1997; Zbl 0882.20021), \textit{R. Laver}, J. Pure Appl. Algebra 108, No. 1, 81-98 (1996; Zbl 0859.20029), \textit{R. Fenn, M. T. Greene, D. Rolfsen, C. Rourke} and \textit{B. Wiest}, Pac. J. Math 191, No. 1, 49-74 (1999; Zbl 1009.20042) for the properties and for recent research about the group \(G_{LD}\)]. The role of the group \(G_{LD}\) in a geometrical description of the identity of distributivity \(x(yz)=(xy)(xz)\) is similar to the role of Thompson's group \(F\) in a geometrical description of the identity of associativity \(x(yz)=(xy)z\) [see \textit{R. J. Thompson}, Word problems II, Stud. Logic Found. Math. Vol. 95, 401-441 (1980; Zbl 0431.20030), \textit{R. McKenzie, R. J. Thompson}, ibid. 71, 457-478 (1973; Zbl 0286.02047), \textit{J. W. Cannon, W. J. Floyd} and \textit{W. R. Parry}, Enseign. Math., II. Sér. 42, No. 3-4, 215-256 (1996; Zbl 0880.20027) for information about Thompson's group \(F\)]. Thompson's group \(F\) is orderable, and even bi-orderable. On the other hand Artin's braid group \(B_\infty\) is not bi-orderable. It was shown by the author [in (*) (loc. cit.)] that \(G_{LD}\) has a linear left-invariant preordering. The reviewed paper strengthens that result and establishes that the group \(G_{LD}\) admits a bi-invariant linear ordering.