Étale categories, restriction semigroups, and their operator algebras

Abstract: We define the full and reduced non-self-adjoint operator algebras associated with \'etale categories and restriction semigroups, answering a question posed by Kudryavtseva and Lawson in \cite{lawson}. Moreover, we define the semicrossed product algebra of an \'etale action of a restriction semigroup on a $C^*$-algebra, which turns out to be the key point when connecting the operator algebra of a restriction semigroup with the operator algebra of its associated \'etale category. We also prove that in the particular cases of \'etale groupoids and inverse semigroups our operator algebras coincide with the $C^*$-algebras of the referred objects.