Definition

For a BB, its nullset is the distinguished ideal

NBB+=N[B]/0.N_B\subseteq B^+=\mathbb N[B]/\langle0\rangle.

Thus the empty sum lies in NBN_B, and

α,βNB,γB+α+βNB,γαNB.\alpha,\beta\in N_B,\quad \gamma\in B^+ \quad\Longrightarrow\quad \alpha+\beta\in N_B,\qquad \gamma\alpha\in N_B.

Membership aiNB\sum a_i\in N_B means that the formal sum ai\sum a_i is declared null.

The band axiom additionally requires each aBa\in B to have a unique aB-a\in B with a+(a)NBa+(-a)\in N_B. Ideal closure alone does not imply the .

Terminology

The band literature uses the single word nullset for NBN_B. This is not the same as a null ideal used to form a quotient of a band: the nullset is part of the band itself.

References