Locally finite semi-group

A semi-group in which every finitely-generated sub-semi-group is finite. A locally finite semi-group is a periodic semi-group (torsion semi-group). The converse is false: There are even torsion groups that are not locally finite (see Burnside problem). Long before the solution of the Burnside problem for groups, examples had been constructed of semi-groups that are torsion but not locally finite in classes of semi-groups remote from groups; above all, in the class of nil semi-groups (cf. Nil semi-group). These are, for example, a free semi-group with two generators in the variety given by $x^3=0$, and a free semi-group with three generators in the variety given by $x^2=0$. Moreover, for a number of classes of semi-groups the conditions of periodicity and local finiteness are equivalent. A trivial example is given by commutative semi-groups. A band of locally finite semi-groups (see Band of semi-groups) is itself a locally finite semi-group [1]; moreover, a semi-group that has a decomposition into locally finite groups is a locally finite semi-group; in particular, a semi-group of idempotents (cf. Idempotents, semi-group of) is a locally finite semi-group [7]. If $n$ is such that any group satisfying the law $x^n=1$ is locally finite, then any semi-group with the law $x^{n+1}=x$ is locally finite [6]. A semi-group that has a decomposition into locally finite semi-groups need not be a locally finite semi-group [3], but if $\rho$ is a congruence on a semi-group $S$ such that the quotient semi-group $S/\rho$ is locally finite and every $\rho$-class that is a sub-semi-group is locally finite, then $S$ is a locally finite semi-group (see [4], [5]); in particular, an ideal extension of a locally finite semi-group by a locally finite semi-group is itself a locally finite semi-group. If $S$ is a periodic semi-group of matrices over a skew-field and all subgroups of $S$ are locally finite, then $S$ is locally finite [8], which implies that any periodic semi-group of matrices over an arbitrary field is locally finite.

If $S$ is a periodic inverse semi-group of matrices over a field and, moreover, the periods of all its elements (see Monogenic semi-group) are uniformly bounded and are not divided by the characteristic of the field, then $S$ is finite [2].

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