Nilpotency and strong nilpotency for finite semigroups

Nilpotent semigroups in the sense of Mal’cev are defined by semigroup identities. Finite nilpotent semigroups constitute a pseudovariety, MN, which has finite rank. The semigroup identities that define nilpotent semigroups lead us to define strongly Mal’cev nilpotent semigroups. Finite strongly Mal’cev nilpotent semigroups constitute a non-finite rank pseudovariety, SMN. The pseudovariety SMN is strictly contained in the pseudovariety MN, but all finite nilpotent groups are in SMN. We show that the pseudovariety MN is the intersection of the pseudovariety BGnil with a pseudovariety defined by a κ-identity. We further compare the pseudovarieties MN and SMN with the Mal’cev product 𝖩ⓜ𝖦nill.

Hyperdecidability of pseudovarieties of orthogroups

Let W denote the intersection with the pseudovariety of completely regular semigroups of the Mal'cev product of the pseudovariety of bands with a pseudovariety V of completely regular semigroups. It is shown that the (pseudo)word problem for W is reduced to that for V in such a way that decidability is preserved in the case in which terms involving only multiplication and weak inversion are considered. It is also shown that, if V is a hyperdecidable (respectively canonically reducible) pseudovariety of groups, then so is W.

Mal'cev products of varieties of completely regular semigroups

Whilst the Mal'cev product of completely regular varieties need not again be a variety, it is shown that in many important instances a variety is in fact obtained. However, unlike the product of group varieties this product is nonassociative.Two important operators introduced by Reilly are studied in the context of Mal'cev products. These operators are shown to generate from any given variety one of the networks discovered by Pastijn and Trotter, enabling identities to be provided for the varieties in the network. In particular the join O V BG of the varieties of orthogroups and of bands of groups is determined, answering a question of Petrich.