# A basic question on Stone-Cech compactification of $\mathbb{Z}$

Can the identity isomorphism on the additive group $\mathbb{Z}$ be extended to a non-identity semigroup isomorphism on $\beta\mathbb{Z}$, and still preserves $\beta\mathbb{Z}\setminus\mathbb{Z}$? Obviously this extension is discontinuous.

-
That might be a silly question but : what is the semi group structure on $\beta \mathbb{Z}$ ? as far as i know cartesian product of ultrafilter are no longer ultrafilter, so the sum of two ultrafilter has no reason to be an ultrafilter in general ? –  Simon Henry Sep 25 '12 at 7:33
If you are interested in algebraic structures on the compactification of a topological group (here the whole numbers as a discrete group) then I would suggest that perhaps you should look at the Bohr rather than the Stone-Cech compactification –  jbc Sep 25 '12 at 8:35
There is a standard definition. A set X is in U+V iff {i in Z : {j in Z : i+j in X} in V} in U. See Hindman and Strauss's book or either of the following books by Todorcevic: "Topics in Topology", "introduction to Ramsey Spaces." –  Justin Moore Sep 25 '12 at 11:55
I agree with Justin's suggestion to see the book of Hindman and Strauss, "Algebra in the Stone-Cech Compactification". I suspect the answer to your question isn't known, but if it is (or, rather, if it was a few years ago) then this book would very probably contain it. –  Andreas Blass Sep 25 '12 at 13:13
I have to disagree with jbc. The perspective "let's only look at compactifications which are groups" would ignore a whole bunch of interesting and actively studied semigroup compactifications (WAP and LUC being the obvious ones). –  Yemon Choi Sep 29 '12 at 5:24