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The kernel of monoid morphisms. (English) Zbl 0698.20056
This article is a continuation of the work of B. Tilson [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 48, 83-198 (1987; Zbl 0627.20031)]. In the paper the kernel of a relation $$\phi$$ : $$M\to N$$ of monoids is introduced. A relation of monoids is a relation whose graph #$$\phi$$ $$=\{(m,n)|$$ $$n\in m\phi \}$$ is a submonoid of $$M\times N$$. This concept includes morphism and division. The kernel of a relation $$\phi$$ is a category, constructed directly from the constituents of $$\phi$$. The kernel provides the foundation for a prime decomposition theorem of finite relations of monoids. It is shown that every relation may be written as a composition of “primitive” relations. A relation is primitive if its kernel bears a certain relationship to a simple monoid, that is a monoid with non non- trivial congruences.
A new product, the block product, is introduced to complement the kernel construction. The block product is a specific form of the two-sided semidirect product, called a double semidirect product. It is shown that there is a deep connection between the kernel and the block product. An adjoint-like relationship between these two concepts is established.
Reviewer: V.Fleischer

##### MSC:
 20M50 Connections of semigroups with homological algebra and category theory 20L05 Groupoids (i.e. small categories in which all morphisms are isomorphisms) 18B40 Groupoids, semigroupoids, semigroups, groups (viewed as categories)
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##### References:
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