Free vector lattices

An investigation into the algebraic properties of free objects in the category of vector lattices is carried out. It is shown that each ideal of a free vector lattice is a cardinal (direct) sum of indecomposable ideals, and that there are no nonzero proper characteristic ideals. Questions concerning injective and surjective endomorphisms are answered. Moreover, for finitely generated free vector lattices it is shown that the maximal ideals are precisely those which are both prime and principal. These results are preceded by an efficient review of the known properties of free vector lattices. The applicability of the theory to abelian lattice-ordered groups is discussed in a brief appendix.