On Kiselman's semigroup

Abstract

We study the algebraic properties of the series $\mathrm{K}_n$ of semigroups, which is inspired by \cite{Ki} and has origins in convexity theory. In particular, we describe Green's relations on $\mathrm{K}_n$, prove that there exists a faithful representation of $\mathrm{K}_n$ by $n\times n$ matrices with non-negative integer coefficients (and even explicitly construct such a representation), and prove that $\mathrm{K}_n$ does not admit a faithful representation by matrices of smaller size. We also describe the maximal nilpotent subsemigroups in $\mathrm{K}_n$, all isolated and completely isolated subsemigroups, all automorphisms and anti-automorphisms of $\mathrm{K}_n$. Finally, we explicitly construct all irreducible representations of $\mathrm{K}_n$ over any field and describe primitive idempotents in the semigroup algebra (which we prove is basic).