Search arXivSearch

arXiv · 1307.8280

The minimal number of generators of a finite semigroup

Abstract

The rank of a finite semigroup is the smallest number of elements required to generate the semigroup. A formula is given for the rank of an arbitrary (non necessarily regular) Rees matrix semigroup over a group. The formula is expressed in terms of the dimensions of the structure matrix, and the relative rank of a certain subset of the structure group obtained from subgroups generated by entries in the structure matrix, which is assumed to be in Graham normal form. This formula is then applied to answer questions about minimal generating sets of certain natural families of transformation semigroups. In particular, the problem of determining the maximum rank of a subsemigroup of the full transformation monoid (and of the symmetric inverse semigroup) is considered.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Robert D. Gray. 2013-07-31. The minimal number of generators of a finite semigroup. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00233-013-9521-8

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Word Measures on Wreath Products II

Every word $w$ in $F_r$, the free group of rank $r$, induces a probability measure (the $w$-measure) on every finite group $G$, by substitution of random $G$-elements in the letters. This measure is determined by its Fourier coefficients: the $w$-expectations $E_w[χ]$ of the irreducible characters of $G$. For every finite group $G$, every stable character $χ$ of $G\wr S_n$ (trace of a finitely generated $FI_G$-module), and every word $w\in F_r$, we approximate $E_w[χ]$ up to an error term of $O(n^{-π(w)})$, where $π(w)$ is the primitivity rank of $w$. This generalizes previous works by Puder, Hanany, Magee and the author. As an application we show that random Schreier graphs of representation-stable actions of $G\wr S_n$ are close-to-optimal expanders. The paper reveals a surprising relation between stable representation theory of wreath products and not-necessarily connected Stallings core graphs.

math.GR

Robust quasi-isometric embeddings inapproximable by Anosov representations

Let $\mathbb{K}=\mathbb{R}$ or $\mathbb{C}$. For all but finitely many $m\in \mathbb{N}$, we exhibit the first examples of non-locally rigid, Zariski dense, robust quasi-isometric embeddings of hyperbolic groups in $\mathsf{SL}_m(\mathbb{K})$ which are not limits of Anosov representations. As a consequence, we show that higher rank analogues of Sullivan's structural stabilty theorem and of the density theorem for Kleinian groups fail for Anosov representations in $\mathsf{SL}_m(\mathbb{C}), m\geq 30$.

math.GR

$\mathcal{C}$-Hereditarily conjugacy separable groups and wreath products

We provide a necessary and sufficient condition for the restricted wreath product $A\wr B$ to be $\mathcal{C}$-hereditarily conjugacy separable where $\mathcal{C}$ is an extension-closed pseudovariety of finite groups. Moreover, we prove that the Grigorchuk group is 2-hereditarily conjugacy separable. As an application, we demonstrate that the lamplighter groups and $\mathbb{Z} \wr \mathbb{Z}$ are hereditarily conjugacy separable (but not $p$-conjugacy separable for any prime $p$). This provides infinitely many new examples of solvable, non-polycyclic hereditarily conjugacy separable groups. Furthermore, we study wreath products of cyclic subgroup separable groups and the derived length of iterated wreath products of solvable groups with an abelian base group and, as an application, we give an explicit construction of non-polycyclic hereditarily conjugacy separable groups of arbitrary derived length as iterated wreath products of abelian groups.

math.GR