On straight words and minimal permutators in finite transformation semigroups

Abstract. Motivated by issues arising in computer science, we inves-tigate the loop-free paths from the identity transformation and corre-sponding straight words in the Cayley graph of a finite transformation semigroup with a fixed generator set. Of special interest are words that permute a given subset of the state set. Certain such words, called min-imal permutators, are shown to comprise a code, and the straight ones comprise a finite code. Thus, words that permute a given subset are uniquely factorizable as products of the subset’s minimal permutators, and these can be further reduced to straight minimal permutators. This leads to insight into structure of local pools of reversibility in transfor-mation semigroups in terms of the set of words permuting a given subset. These findings can be exploited in practical calculations for hierarchical decompositions of finite automata. As an example we consider groups arising in biological systems.