Quasi-affine algebraic monoids (Q789534)

The subject of affine algebraic monoids is in a phase of rapid growth due largely to the efforts of M. S. Putcha and the author. The main result here asserts that any irreducible quasi-affine algebraic monoid is actually an affine variety. The author obtains his result by first showing that any open submonoid of an irreducible affine algebraic monoid is affine. This is done using a careful analysis of class functions and a reduction to the toric case. From there he obtains the main result by embedding the given monoid as an open submonoid in some ambient affine algebraic monoid. Several related problems are suggested.