The conference was a rare occasion for different schools and perspectives to meet in a single event, bringing together researchers interested in semigroups, automata and languages. The proceedings contain both surveys and research reports, which have been carefully refereed. They should be of value to both mathematicians and computer scientists.

The thematic term on ?Semigroups, Algorithms, Automata and Languages? organized at the International Centre of Mathematics (Coimbra, Portugal) in May-July 2001 was the gathering point for researchers working in the field of semigroups, algorithms, automata and languages. These areas were selected considering their huge recent developments, their potential applications, and the motivation from other fields of mathematics and computer science.This proceedings volume is a unique collection of advanced courses and original contributions on semigroups and their connections with logic, automata, languages, group theory, discrete dynamics, topology and complexity. A selection of open problems discussed during the thematic term is also included.

The thematic term on OC Semigroups, Algorithms, Automata and LanguagesOCO organized at the International Centre of Mathematics (Coimbra, Portugal) in MayOCoJuly 2001 was the gathering point for researchers working in the field of semigroups, algorithms, automata and languages. These areas were selected considering their huge recent developments, their potential applications, and the motivation from other fields of mathematics and computer science. This proceedings volume is a unique collection of advanced courses and original contributions on semigroups and their connections with logic, automata, languages, group theory, discrete dynamics, topology and complexity. A selection of open problems discussed during the thematic term is also included. Contents: Finite Semigroups: An Introduction to a Unified Theory of Pseudovarieties (J Almeida); On Existence Varieties of Regular Semigroups (K Auinger); Varieties of Languages (M J J Branco); A Short Introduction to Automatic Group Theory (C Choffrut); Some Results on Semigroup-Graded Rings (W D Munn); Profinite Groups and Applications to Finite Semigroups (L Ribes); Dynamics of Finite Semigroups (J Almeida); Finite Semigroups Imposing Tractable Constraints (A Bulatov et al.); On the Efficiency and Deficiency of Rees Matrix Semigroups (C M Campbell et al.); Some Pseudovariety Joins Involving Groups and Locally Trivial Semigroups (J C Costa); Partial Action of Groups on Relational Structures: A Connection Between Model Theory and Profinite Topology (T Coulbois); Some Relatives of Automatic and Hyperbolic Groups (M Hoffmann et al.); A Sampler of a Topological Approach to Inverse Semigroups (B Steinberg); Finite Semigroups and the Logical Description of Regular Languages (H Straubing); Diamonds are Forever: The Variety DA (P Tesson & D Th(r)rien); Decidability Problems in Finite Semigroups (P G Trotter); and other papers. Readership: Researchers, academics and graduate students in pure mathematics and computer science."

This is a rigorous and self-contained monograph on a central topic in theoretical computer science. For the first time in book form, original results from the last ten years are presented, some previously unpublished, using combinatorial and algebraic methods. These are mainly based on combinatorics on words and especially on the theory of "unavoidable regularities." Researchers will find important new results on semigroups and formal languages, as well as various applications for these methods.

Theory of Codes

Infinite Words is an important theory in both Mathematics and Computer Sciences. Many new developments have been made in the field, encouraged by its application to problems in computer science. Infinite Words is the first manual devoted to this topic. Infinite Words explores all aspects of the theory, including Automata, Semigroups, Topology, Games, Logic, Bi-infinite Words, Infinite Trees and Finite Words. The book also looks at the early pioneering work of Büchi, McNaughton and Schützenberger. Serves as both an introduction to the field and as a reference book. Contains numerous exercises desgined to aid students and readers. Self-contained chapters provide helpful guidance for lectures.

This is the first book about commutative semigroups in general. Emphasis is on structure but the other parts of the theory are at least surveyed and a full set of about 850 references is included. The book is intended for mathematicians who do research on semigroups or who encounter commutative semigroups in their research.