ω-terms over finite aperiodic semigroups

Abstract

This paper provides a characterization of pseudowords over the pseudovariety of all finite aperiodic semigroups that are given by w-terms, that is that can be obtained from the free generators using only multiplication and the w-power. A necessary and sufficient condition for this property to hold turns out to be given by the conjunction of two rather simple finiteness conditions: the nonexistence of infinite anti-chains of factors and the rationality of the language of McCammond normal forms of w-terms that define factors.