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Alan J. Cain

Publications and source records attributed to Alan J. Cain.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2017

Combinatorics of cyclic shifts in plactic, hypoplactic, sylvester, Baxter, and related monoids

The cyclic shift graph of a monoid is the graph whose vertices are elements of the monoid and whose edges link elements that differ by a cyclic shift. This paper examines the cyclic shift graphs of `plactic-like' monoids, whose elements can be viewed as combinatorial objects of some type: aside from the plactic monoid itself (the monoid of Young tableaux), examples include the hypoplactic monoid (quasi-ribbon tableaux), the sylvester monoid (binary search trees), the stalactic monoid (stalactic tableaux), the taiga monoid (binary search trees with multiplicities), and the Baxter monoid (pairs of twin binary search trees). It was already known that for many of these monoids, connected components of the cyclic shift graph consist of elements that have the same evaluation (that is, contain the same number of each generating symbol). This paper focusses on the maximum diameter of a connected component of the cyclic shift graph of these monoids in the rank-$n$ case. For the hypoplactic monoid, this is $n-1$; for the sylvester and taiga monoids, at least $n-1$ and at most $n$; for the stalactic monoid, $3$ (except for ranks $1$ and $2$, when it is respectively $0$ and $1$); for the plactic monoid, at least $n-1$ and at most $2n-3$. The current state of knowledge, including new and previously-known results, is summarized in a table.

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arXiv2017

Combinatorics of cyclic shifts in plactic, hypoplactic, sylvester, and related monoids

The cyclic shift graph of a monoid is the graph whose vertices are elements of the monoid and whose edges link elements that differ by a cyclic shift. For certain monoids connected with combinatorics, such as the plactic monoid (the monoid of Young tableaux) and the sylvester monoid (the monoid of binary search trees), connected components consist of elements that have the same evaluation (that is, contain the same number of each generating symbol). This paper discusses new results on the diameters of connected components of the cyclic shift graphs of the finite-rank analogues of these monoids, showing that the maximum diameter of a connected component is dependent only on the rank. The proof techniques are explained in the case of the sylvester monoid.

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arXiv2017

The monoids of the patience sorting algorithm

The left patience sorting (lPS) monoid, also known in the literature as the Bell monoid, and the right patient sorting (rPS) monoid are introduced by defining certain congruences on words. Such congruences are constructed using insertion algorithms based on the concept of decreasing subsequences. Presentations for these monoids are given. Each finite-rank rPS monoid is shown to have polynomial growth and to satisfy a non-trivial identity (dependent on its rank), while the infinite rank rPS monoid does not satisfy a non-trivial identity. The lPS monoids of finite rank have exponential growth and thus do not satisfy non-trivial identities. The complexity of the insertion algorithms is discussed. rPS monoids of finite rank are shown to be automatic and to have recursive complete presentations. When the rank is $1$ or $2$, they are also biautomatic. lPS monoids of finite rank are shown to have finite complete presentations and to be biautomatic.

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arXiv2017

On finite complete rewriting systems, finite derivation type, and automaticity for homogeneous monoids

This paper investigates the class of finitely presented monoids defined by homogeneous (length-preserving) relations from a computational perspective. The properties of admitting a finite complete rewriting system, having finite derivation type, being automatic, and being biautomatic are investigated for this class of monoids. The first main result shows that for any consistent combination of these properties and their negations, there is a homogeneous monoid with exactly this combination of properties. We then introduce the new concept of abstract Rees-commensurability (an analogue of the notion of abstract commensurability for groups) in order to extend this result to show that the same statement holds even if one restricts attention to the class of $n$-ary homogeneous monoids (where every side of every relation has fixed length $n$). We then introduce a new encoding technique that allows us to extend the result partially to the class of $n$-ary multihomogenous monoids.

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arXiv2017

A note on identities in plactic monoids and monoids of upper-triangular tropical matrices

This paper uses the combinatorics of Young tableaux to prove the plactic monoid of infinite rank does not satisfy a non-trivial identity, by showing that the plactic monoid of rank $n$ cannot satisfy a non-trivial identity of length less than or equal to $n$. A new identity is then proven to hold for the monoid of $n \times n$ upper-triangular tropical matrices. Finally, a straightforward embedding is exhibited of the plactic monoid of rank $3$ into the direct product of two copies of the monoid of $3\times 3$ upper-triangular tropical matrices, giving a new proof that the plactic monoid of rank $3$ satisfies a non-trivial identity.

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arXiv2017

Automaton semigroups: new construction results and examples of non-automaton semigroups

This paper studies the class of automaton semigroups from two perspectives: closure under constructions, and examples of semigroups that are not automaton semigroups. We prove that (semigroup) free products of finite semigroups always arise as automaton semigroups, and that the class of automaton monoids is closed under forming wreath products with finite monoids. We also consider closure under certain kinds of Rees matrix constructions, strong semilattices, and small extensions. Finally, we prove that no subsemigroup of $(\mathbb{N}, +)$ arises as an automaton semigroup. (Previously, $(\mathbb{N},+)$ itself was the unique example of a finitely generated residually finite semigroup that was known not to arise as an automaton semigroup.)

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arXiv2016

Crystallizing the hypoplactic monoid: from quasi-Kashiwara operators to the Robinson--Schensted--Knuth-type correspondence for quasi-ribbon tableaux

Crystal graphs, in the sense of Kashiwara, carry a natural monoid structure given by identifying words labelling vertices that appear in the same position of isomorphic components of the crystal. In the particular case of the crystal graph for the $q$-analogue of the special linear Lie algebra $\mathfrak{sl}_{n}$, this monoid is the celebrated plactic monoid, whose elements can be identified with Young tableaux. The crystal graph and the so-called Kashiwara operators interact beautifully with the combinatorics of Young tableaux and with the Robinson--Schensted--Knuth correspondence and so provide powerful combinatorial tools to work with them. This paper constructs an analogous `quasi-crystal' structure for the hypoplactic monoid, whose elements can be identified with quasi-ribbon tableaux and whose connection with the theory of quasi-symmetric functions echoes the connection of the plactic monoid with the theory of symmetric functions. This quasi-crystal structure and the associated quasi-Kashiwara operators are shown to interact just as neatly with the combinatorics of quasi-ribbon tableaux and with the hypoplactic version of the Robinson--Schensted--Knuth correspondence. A study is then made of the interaction of the crystal graph of the plactic monoid and the quasi-crystal graph for the hypoplactic monoid. Finally, the quasi-crystal structure is applied to prove some new results about the hypoplactic monoid.

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arXiv2015

Deciding conjugacy in sylvester monoids and other homogeneous monoids

We give a combinatorial characterization of conjugacy in the sylvester monoid (the monoid of binary search trees), showing that conjugacy is decidable for this monoid. We then prove that conjugacy is undecidable in general for homogeneous monoids and even for multihomogeneous monoids.

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arXiv2015

Decision problems for word-hyperbolic semigroups

This paper studies decision problems for semigroups that are word-hyperbolic in the sense of Duncan & Gilman. A fundamental investigation reveals that the natural definition of a `word-hyperbolic structure' has to be strengthened slightly in order to define a unique semigroup up to isomorphism. The isomorphism problem is proven to be undecidable for word-hyperbolic semigroups (in contrast to the situation for word-hyperbolic groups). It is proved that it is undecidable whether a word-hyperbolic semigroup is automatic, asynchronously automatic, biautomatic, or asynchronously biautomatic. (These properties do not hold in general for word-hyperbolic semigroups.) It is proved that the uniform word problem for word-hyperbolic semigroup is solvable in polynomial time (improving on the previous exponential-time algorithm). Algorithms are presented for deciding whether a word-hyperbolic semigroup is a monoid, a group, a completely simple semigroup, a Clifford semigroup, or a free semigroup.

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arXiv2015

Rewriting systems and biautomatic structures for Chinese, hypoplactic, and sylvester monoids

This paper studies complete rewriting systems and biautomaticity for three interesting classes of finite-rank homogeneous monoids: Chinese monoids, hypoplactic monoids, and sylvester monoids. For Chinese monoids, we first give new presentations via finite complete rewriting systems, using more lucid constructions and proofs than those given independently by Chen & Qui and Güzel Karpuz; we then construct biautomatic structures. For hypoplactic monoids, we construct finite complete rewriting systems and biautomatic structures. For sylvester monoids, which are not finitely presented, we prove that the standard presentation is an infinite complete rewriting system, and construct biautomatic structures. Consequently, the monoid algebras corresponding to monoids of these classes are automaton algebras in the sense of Ufnarovskij.

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arXiv2014

Finite Gröbner--Shirshov bases for Plactic algebras and biautomatic structures for Plactic monoids

This paper shows that every Plactic algebra of finite rank admits a finite Gröbner--Shirshov basis. The result is proved by using the combinatorial properties of Young tableaux to construct a finite complete rewriting system for the corresponding Plactic monoid, which also yields the corollaries that Plactic monoids of finite rank have finite derivation type and satisfy the homological finiteness properties left and right $FP_\infty$. Also, answering a question of Zelmanov, we apply this rewriting system and other techniques to show that Plactic monoids of finite rank are biautomatic.

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arXiv2013

Hopfian and co-hopfian subsemigroups and extensions

This paper investigates the preservation of hopficity and co-hopficity on passing to finite-index subsemigroups and extensions. It was already known that hopficity is not preserved on passing to finite Rees index subsemigroups, even in the finitely generated case. We give a stronger example to show that it is not preserved even in the finitely presented case. It was also known that hopficity is not preserved in general on passing to finite Rees index extensions, but that it is preserved in the finitely generated case. We show that, in contrast, hopficity is not preserved on passing to finite Green index extensions, even within the class of finitely presented semigroups. Turning to co-hopficity, we prove that within the class of finitely generated semigroups, co-hopficity is preserved on passing to finite Rees index extensions, but is not preserved on passing to finite Rees index subsemigroups, even in the finitely presented case. Finally, by linking co-hopficity for graphs to co-hopficity for semigroups, we show that without the hypothesis of finite generation, co-hopficity is not preserved on passing to finite Rees index extensions.

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arXiv2013

Automaton semigroup constructions

The aim of this paper is to investigate whether the class of automaton semigroups is closed under certain semigroup constructions. We prove that the free product of two automaton semigroups that contain left identities is again an automaton semigroup. We also show that the class of automaton semigroups is closed under the combined operation of 'free product followed by adjoining an identity'. We present an example of a free product of finite semigroups that we conjecture is not an automaton semigroup. Turning to wreath products, we consider two slight generalizations of the concept of an automaton semigroup, and show that a wreath product of an automaton monoid and a finite monoid arises as a generalized automaton semigroup in both senses. We also suggest a potential counterexample that would show that a wreath product of an automaton monoid and a finite monoid is not a necessarily an automaton monoid in the usual sense.

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arXiv2013

For a few elements more: A survey of finite Rees index

This paper makes a comprehensive survey of results relating to finite Rees index for semigroups. In particular, we survey of the state of knowledge on whether various finiteness properties (such as finite generation, finite presentability, automaticity, and hopficity) are inherited by finite Rees index subsemigroups and extensions. We survey other properties that are invariant under passing to finite Rees index subsemigroups and extensions, such as the cofinality and number of ends. We prove some new results: inheritance of word-hyperbolicity by finite Rees index subsemigroups, and inheritance of (geometric) hyperbolicity by finite Rees index extensions and subsemigroups within the class of monoids of finite geometric type. We also give some improved counterexamples. All the results are summarized in a table.

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arXiv2013

A countable family of finitely presented infinite congruence-free monoids

We prove that monoids $\mathrm{Mon}\langle a,b,c,d : a^nb=0, ac=1, db=1, dc=1, dab=1, da^2b=1, \ldots, da^{n-1}b=1\rangle$ are congruence-free for all $n\geq 1$. This provides a new countable family of finitely presented congruence-free monoids, bringing one step closer to understanding the Boone--Higman Conjecture. We also provide examples which show that finitely presented congruence-free monoids may have quadratic Dehn function.

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arXiv2013

Automatic structures for subsemigroups of Baumslag--Solitar semigroups

This paper studies automatic structures for subsemigroups of Baumslag--Solitar semigroups (that is, semigroups presented by $\ < x,y \mid (yx^m, x^ny)\ >$, where $m$ and $n$ are natural numbers). A geometric argument (a rarity in the field of automatic semigroups) is used to show that if $m \gt n$, all of the finitely generated subsemigroups of this semigroup are [right-] automatic. If $m \lt n$, all of its finitely generated subsemigroups are left-automatic. If $m = n$, there exist finitely generated subsemigroups that are not automatic. An appendix discusses the implications of these results for the theory of Malcev presentations. (A Malcev presentation is a special type of presentation for semigroups embeddable into groups.)

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arXiv2013

Unary FA-presentable binary relations: transitivity and classification results

Automatic presentations, also called FA-presentations, were introduced to extend finite model theory to infinite structures whilst retaining the solubility of fundamental decision problems. A particular focus of research has been the classification of those structures of some species that admit FA-presentations. Whilst some successes have been obtained, this appears to be a difficult problem in general. A restricted problem, also of significant interest, is to ask this question for unary FA-presentations: that is, FA-presentations over a one-letter alphabet. This paper studies unary FA-presentable binary relations. It is proven that transitive closure of a unary FA-presentable binary relation is itself unary FA-presentable. Characterizations are then given of unary FA-presentable binary relations, quasi-orders, partial orders, tournaments, directed trees and forests, undirected trees and forests, and the orbit structures of unary FA-presentable partial and complete mappings, injections, surjections, and bijections.

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