Gaussian Groups and Garside Groups, Two Generalisations of Artin Groups

1999

It is known that a number of algebraic properties of the braid groups extend to arbitrary finite Coxeter-type Artin groups. Here we show how to extend the results to more general groups that we call Garside groups. Define a Gaussian monoid to be a finitely generated cancellative monoid where the expressions of a given element have bounded lengths, and where left and right lowest common multiples exist. A Garside monoid is a Gaussian monoid in which the left and right lowest common multiples satisfy an additional symmetry condition. A Gaussian group is the group of fractions of a Gaussian monoid, and a Garside group is the group of fractions of a Garside monoid. Braid groups and, more genera…