Morphisms and Associated Congruences

To every morphism of X∗ a congruence fR on X ∗, called kernel congruence, and defined by ufRv iff f(u) = f(v) can be associated. We characterize morphisms having a commutative kernel congruence and, introducing the notion of the index of a morphism, we give a classification of the morphisms of X∗. Moreover, a congruence with special properties, called hp-congruence is considered; every kernel congruence is an hp-congruence, but the converse does not hold.