Homogeneity of inverse semigroups

Abstract

An inverse semigroup [Formula: see text] is a semigroup in which every element has a unique inverse in the sense of semigroup theory, that is, if [Formula: see text] then there exists a unique [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. We say that a countable inverse semigroup [Formula: see text] is a homogeneous (inverse) semigroup if any isomorphism between finitely generated (inverse) subsemigroups of [Formula: see text] extends to an automorphism of [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we consider both these concepts of homogeneity for inverse semigroups, and show when they are equivalent. We also obtain certain classifications of homogeneous inverse semigroups, in particular periodic commutative inverse semigroups. Our results may be seen as extending both the classification of homogeneous semilattices and the classification of certain classes of homogeneous groups, such as homogeneous abelian groups and homogeneous finite groups.