On left legal semigroups (Q6167190)

The class (variety) of left legal semigroups is defined by the identity \(aba = ab\). Here, the structure of free left legal semigroups over an alphabet is described; it is rather similar to the description of free semigroups of the variety of left regular bands -- semigroups defined with identities \(aba = ab\), \(aa = a\). The free semigroup of left regular bands (the minimal-length representations of words) consists of all injective words over the set of generators (words without repeated letters) but in the free semigroup in the variety of left legal semigroups are included also words, where the first letter is doubled, e.g. words \(aa\), \(aab\) etc. -- they are not forbidden in left legal semigroups by the identity \(aba = ab\), but are forbidden in left regular bands by the identity \(aa = a\). Also, several properties of left legal semigroups (e.g. right and left separativity) are considered. An 11-element `lowest level' (atoms and neutral elements) of the lattice of left legal semigroup varieties is established. But here an example of 6-element left legal semigroup (over two generators), which does not belong to any of varieties presented in this structure, is presented. Thus, author asks: ``Is the lattice of all left legal semigroup varieties finite?''