Finite derivation type for Rees matrix semigroups

This paper introduces the topological finiteness condition finite derivation type (FDT) on the class of semigroups. This notion is naturally extended from the monoid case. With this new concept we are able to prove that if a Rees matrix semigroupM[S; I, J ;P ] has FDT then the semigroup S also has FDT. Given a monoid S and a finitely presented Rees matrix semigroup M[S; I, J ;P ] we prove that if the ideal of S generated by the entries of P has FDT, then so does M[S; I, J ;P ]. In particular, we show that, for a finitely presented completely simple semigroupM , the Rees matrix semigroupM=M[S; I, J ;P ] has FDT if and only if the group S has FDT. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.