On the rational subset problem for groups

We use language theory to study the rational subset problem for groups and monoids. We show that the decidability of this problem is preserved under graph of groups constructions with finite edge groups. In particular, it passes through free products amalgamated over finite subgroups and HNN extensions with finite associated subgroups. We provide a simple proof of a result of Grunschlag showing that the decidability of this problem is a virtual property. We prove further that the problem is decidable for a direct product of a group G with a monoid M if and only if membership is uniformly decidable for G-automata subsets of M. It follows that a direct product of a free group with any abelian group or commutative monoid has decidable rational subset membership.Comment: 19 page

Application of verification techniques to inverse monoids

The word problem for inverse monoids generated by a set $Gamma$ subject to relations of the form $e=f$, where $e$ and $f$ are both idempotents in the free inverse monoid generated by $Gamma$, is investigated. It is shown that for every fixed monoid of this form the word problem can be solved in polynomial time which solves an open problem of Margolis and Meakin. For the uniform word problem, where the presentation is part of the input, EXPTIME-completeness is shown. For the Cayley-graphs of these monoids, it is shown that the first-order theory with regular path predicates is decidable. Regular path predicates allow to state that there is a path from a node $x$ to a node $y$ that is labeled with a word from some regular language. As a corollary, the decidability of the generalized word problem is deduced. Finally, some results on free partially commutative inverse monoids are presented

The submonoid and rational subset membership problems for graph groups

We show that the membership problem in a finitely generated submonoid of a graph group (also called a right-angled Artin group or a free partially commutative group) is decidable if and only if the independence graph (commutation graph) is a transitive forest. As a consequence we obtain the first example of a finitely presented group with a decidable generalized word problem that does not have a decidable membership problem for finitely generated submonoids. We also show that the rational subset membership problem is decidable for a graph group if and only if the independence graph is a transitive forest, answering a question of Kambites, Silva, and the second author. Finally we prove that for certain amalgamated free products and HNN-extensions the rational subset and submonoid membership problems are recursively equivalent. In particular, this applies to finitely generated groups with two or more ends that are either torsion-free or residually finite

Algorithmic properties of inverse monoids with hyperbolic and tree-like Sch\"utzenberger graphs

We prove that the class of finitely presented inverse monoids whose Sch\"utzenberger graphs are quasi-isometric to trees has a uniformly solvable word problem, furthermore, the languages of their Sch\"utzenberger automata are context-free. On the other hand, we show that there is a finitely presented inverse monoid with hyperbolic Sch\"utzenberger graphs and an unsolvable word problem

Automatic presentations for semigroups

Special Issue: 2nd International Conference on Language and Automata Theory and Applications (LATA 2008)This paper applies the concept of FA-presentable structures to semigroups. We give a complete classification of the finitely generated FA-presentable cancellative semigroups: namely, a finitely generated cancellative semigroup is FA-presentable if and only if it is a subsemigroup of a virtually abelian group. We prove that all finitely generated commutative semigroups are FA-presentable. We give a complete list of FA-presentable one-relation semigroups and compare the classes of FA-presentable semigroups and automatic semigroups. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PostprintPeer reviewe

The Self-Similarity of Free Semigroups and Groups (Logic, Algebraic system, Language and Related Areas in Computer Science)

We give a survey on results regarding self-similar and automaton presentations of free groups and semigroups and related products. Furthermore, we discuss open problems and results with respect to algebraic decision problems in this area