We relate the problem of computing the closure of a finitely generated subgroup of the free group in the pro-V topology, where V is a pseudovariety of finite groups, with an extension problem for inverse automata which can be stated as follows: given partial one-to-one maps on a finite set, can they be extended into permutations generating a group in V? The two problems are equivalent when V is extension-closed. Turning to practical computations, we modify Ribes and Zalesskiĭ's algorithm to compute the pro-p closure of a finitely generated subgroup of the free group in polynomial time, and to effectively compute its pro-nilpotent closure. Finally, we apply our results to a problem in finite monoid theory, the membership problem in pseudovarieties of inverse monoids which are Mal'cev products of semilattices and a pseudovariety of groups. Résumé: Nous établissons un lien entre le problème du calcul de l'adhéerence d'un sous-groupe finiment engendré du groupe libre dans la topologie pro-V, oú V est une pseudovariété de groupes finis, et un probléme d'extension pour les automates inversifs qui peut être énoncé de la faç con suivante: étant données des transformations partielles injectives d'un ensemble fini, peuvent-elles être étendues en des permutations qui engendrent un groupe dans V? Les deux problèmes sont équivalents si V est fermée par extensions. Nous intéressant ensuite aux calculs pratiques, nous modifions l'algorithme de Ribes et Zalesskiĭ pour calculer l'adhérence pro-p d'un sous-groupe finiment engendré du groupe libre en temps polynomial et pour calculer effectivement sa clôture pro-nilpotente. Enfin nous appliquons nos résultats à un problème de théorie des monoïdes finis, celui de de l'appartenance dans les pseudovariétés de monoïdes inversifs qui sont des produits de Mal'cev de demi-treillis et d'une pseudovariété de groupes.

We study the maximal subgroups of free idempotent generated semigroups on a biordered set by topological methods. These subgroups are realized as the fundamental groups of a number of 2-complexes naturally associated to the biorder structure of the set of idempotents. We use this to construct the first example of a free idempotent generated semigroup containing a non-free subgroup.

Abstract. In this paper we characterize the congruence associated to the direct sum of all irreducible representations of a finite semigroup over an arbitrary field, generalizing results of Rhodes for the field of complex numbers. Applications are given to obtain many new results, as well as easier proofs of several results in the literature, involving: triangularizability of finite semigroups; which semigroups have (split) basic semigroup algebras, two-sided semidirect product decompositions of finite monoids; unambiguous products of rational languages; products of rational languages with counter; andČerný's conjecture for an important class of automata.

This paper is concerned with the many deep and far reaching consequences of Ash's positive solution of the type II conjecture for finite monoids. After reviewing the statement and history of the problem, we show how it can be used to decide if a finite monoid is in the variety generated by the Malcev product of a given variety and the variety of groups. Many interesting varieties of finite monoids have such a description including the variety generated by inverse monoids, orthodox monoids and solid monoids. A fascinating case is that of block groups. A block group is a monoid such that every element has at most one semigroup inverse. As a consequence of the cover conjecture — also verified by Ash — it follows that block groups are precisely the divisors of power monoids of finite groups. The proof of this last fact uses earlier results of the authors and the deepest tools and results from global semigroup theory. We next give connections with the profinite group topologies on finitely generated free monoids and free groups. In particular, we show that the type II conjecture is equivalent with two other conjectures on the structure of closed sets (one conjecture for the free monoid and another one for the free group). Now Ash's theorem implies that the two topological conjectures are true and independently, a direct proof of the topological conjecture for the free group has been recently obtained by Ribes and Zalesskii. An important consequence is that a rational subset of a finitely generated free group G is closed in the profinite topology if and only if it is a finite union of sets of the form gH1H2…Hn, where g ∈ G and each Hi is a finitely generated subgroup of G. This significantly extends classical results of M. Hall. Finally, we return to the roots of this problem and give connections with the complexity theory of finite semigroups. We show that the largest local complexity function in the sense of Rhodes and Tilson is computable.

The relationship between covering spaces of graphs and subgroups of the free group leads to a rapid proof of the Nielsen-Schreier subgroup theorem. We show here that a similar relationship holds between immersions of graphs and closed inverse submonoids of free inverse monoids. We prove using these methods, that a closed inverse submonoid of a free inverse monoid is finitely generated if and only if it has finite index if and only if it is a rational subset of the free inverse monoid in the sense of formal language theory. We solve the word problem for the free inverse category over a graph Γ. We show that immersions over Γ may be classified via conjugacy classes of loop monoids of the free inverse category over Γ. In the case that Γ is a bouquet of X circles, we prove that the category of (connected) immersions over Γ is equivalent to the category of (transitive) representations of the free inverse monoid FIM(X). Such representations are coded by closed inverse submonoids of FIM(X). These monoids will be constructed in a natural way from groups acting freely on trees and they admit an idempotent pure retract onto a free inverse monoid. Applications to the classification of finitely generated subgroups of free groups via finite inverse monoids are developed.