Inverse semigroups determined by their lattices of convex inverse subsemigroups I

Every inverse semigroup possesses a natural partial order and therefore convexity with respect to this order is of interest. We study the extent to which an inverse semigroup is determined by its lattice of convex inverse subsemigroups; that is, if the lattices of two inverse semigroups are isomorphic, how are the semigroups related? We solve this problem completely for semilattices and for inverse semigroups in general reduce it to the case where the lattice isomorphism induces an isomorphism between the semilattices of idempotents of the semigroups. For many inverse semigroups, such as the monogenic ones, this case is the only one that can occur. In Part II, a study of the reduced case enables us to prove that many inverse semigroups, such as the free ones, are strictly determined by their lattices of convex inverse subsemigroups, and to show that the answer obtained here for semilattices can be extended to a broad class of inverse semigroups, including all finite, aperiodic ones. Received September 24, 2002; accepted in final form December 15, 2002.