Semigroup presentations

Abstract

In this thesis we consider the following two fundamental problems for semigroup presentations: 1. Given a semigroup find a presentation defining it. 2. Given a presentation describe the semigroup defined by it. We also establish other related results. After an introduction in Chapter 1, we consider the first problem in Chapter 2, and establish a presentation for the commutative semigroup of integers Zpt. Dually, in Chapter 3 we consider the second problem and study presentations of semigroups related to the direct product of cyclic groups. In Chapter 4 we study presentations of semigroups related to dihedral groups and establish their V-classes structure in Chapter 5. In Chapter 6 we establish some results related to the Schutzenberger group which were suggested by our studies of the semigroup presentations in Chapters 3 and 4. Finally, in Chapter 7 we define and study new classes of semigroups which we call R, L-semi-commutative and semi-commutative semigroups and they were also suggested by our studies of the semigroup presentations in Chapters 3 and 4.