Search arXiv⌕ Search

arXiv · 2609.39370

The Margolis-Rhodes Monoid of a Graph

Abstract

We investigate the structural, combinatorial, ideal-theoretic and Krohn-Rhodes complexity of the Margolis-Rhodes monoid, MR(G), of a finite simple graph G, viewed topologically as a 1-dimensional simplicial complex. Alongside the full monoid, we examine some subsemigroups including St(G), defined by the condition that the full inverse image is an edge or the empty set and Inj(G), the monoid of all partial 1-1 continuous functions. We provide explicit combinatorial enumerations and struture for paths and cycles. We compute Green's relations showing in particular that the partial order of regular J-classes is isomorphic to the poset of induced subgraphs of G. Finally, we apply these structural invariants to Krohn-Rhodes complexity theory. It is known that the Margolis-Rhodes monoid has complexity at most 2 and 1 for St(G) and Inj(G). We show that for cycles the complexity of its Margolis-Rhodes monoid is 2 if and only if the cycle is of length at least 4. For paths, we prove that the complexity of its Margolis-Rhodes monoid is 2 if the path length is at least 13.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Stuart Margolis, John Rhodes. 2026-10-01. The Margolis-Rhodes Monoid of a Graph. https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.39370

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

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

JSJ splittings for all Artin groups

We prove that an Artin group splits over infinite cyclic subgroups if and only if its defining graph has a separating vertex, and explicitly construct a JSJ decomposition over infinite cyclic subgroups for all Artin groups. We then use these facts to show that, if two Artin groups are isomorphic, then they have the same set of parabolics supported on "big chunks", that is, maximal subgraphs without separating vertices. We also deduce acylindrical hyperbolicity for the automorphism groups of many Artin groups, partially answering a question of Genevois in the case of Artin groups. As a consequence, we produce new families of Artin groups with the R-infinity property.

math.GR↗

Finite-valued invariant metrics and a classification of natural groups

For every group $G$, of arbitrary cardinality, we construct a right-invariant metric with at most $32$ values whose isometries are exactly the permutations preserving every right-invariant metric on $G$. The proof combines subgroup-entry ranks and sign-variation colorings with a short-word rigidity theorem of Leemann and de la Salle. Their nonabelian orientation-rigidity theorem and direct regular-subgroup arguments yield the complete classification of natural groups in the right-translation sense: an abelian group $A$ is natural if and only if $2A=A$ or $2A=\{0\}$, and a nonabelian group is natural if and only if it is not generalized dicyclic. In particular, the additive group of every field is natural. The bound improves to $17$ for abelian groups and $5$ for Boolean groups, and the Boolean bound is sharp: $C_2^3$ admits no such metric with fewer than five values. Complementary constructions give one countable-valued hull metric realizing precisely the affine sign isometries simultaneously on all subgroups containing fixed coordinate markers, and signed-basis metrics with at most $p+5$ values over $\mathbb{F}_p$ for odd $p$. No other bound is claimed optimal, and no uncolored graphical regular representation is asserted.

math.GR↗

Watkins's conjecture holds for all infinite groups

We prove that at every infinite cardinality, every group which is neither abelian of exponent greater than two nor generalized dicyclic admits a graphical regular representation, settling the infinite-group part of Watkins's conjecture. We also determine the Cayley index of every infinite group: it is $1$, $2$, or $8$, according to its algebraic type, and in every case the index is attained by a connected Cayley graph. For every infinite group $G$ of cardinality $κ$, we construct $2^κ$ pairwise nonisomorphic Cayley graphs with exactly the unavoidable inverse-pair symmetries, diameter two, and $κ$ common neighbors at every distinct pair. The principal tool recovers a continuous ordinal hierarchy from an alternating adjacency baseline with bounded-degree errors: robust finite patterns identify the initial classes, successive twin quotients recover the layers, and their finite exception packets determine the translation action. The reconstruction applies without a group action and is stable under additional layerwise bounded-degree edits. Further results give closed Cantor-cube families with prescribed finite data in the regular cases, sharp cofinality-dependent graph properties, and optimal three-valued shortest-path metrics.

math.GR↗